Steve Brodie (record executive)

Steve Brodie (c.1927 – March 15, 2004) was an American record label owner and founder who was very active during the 1960s and 1970s. He owned or co-owned Thunderbird Records, Sahara Records, Forever Music and various others. He also produced recordings for artists.

Steve Brodie
Bornc. 1927
DiedMarch 15, 2004 (aged 77)
Westwood, California, U.S.
OccupationRecord company director, manager, record producer

Background

Part of Brodie's history in the music business includes his work as a promoter. He played a big part in helping "Tragedy" become a hit for Thomas Wayne.[1] During the 1960s, he headed Master's Releasing Corp.[2] His promotion and production work included making "Wild Weekend" for The Rockin' Rebels a hit.[3][4] In distribution he was co-owner of Best Record Distributors and Gold Record Distributors. He was also co-owner of Transcontinent Record Sales and Amherst Records. Along with Leonard Silver, he opened a chain of music stores, Record Theater.[5] The record labels he owned included Thunderbird Records.[6]

Career

1960s to 1970s

In 1959, Brodie was hired by Scotty Moore as their national promotion man to push Thomas Wayne's song "Tragedy". Brodie said that he could make the song a big hit. Working with Robert Buckalew who was an attorney from Memphis, they persuaded record pressing plants to give them 60 days credit to allow time for royalties to come in. Brodie started off working Buffalo which was his home town. The record started climbing the charts there. Brodie then turned his attention to focus on the bigger markets. By March it was at #8 on the National charts at a million seller. Brodie was paid a nickel per record.[7]

In 1960, he was a music promotor, manager and record producer. He also headed Best Records. Among the acts he managed were Hot Toddies and Larry Hall who had a hit with "Sandy".[8] By June that year, Brodie was working for Fernwood Records.[9] It would eventually get to #5.[10]

Along with partner Leonard Silver he played a major part in making "Wild Weekend" a hit for The Rockin' Rebels. They had the song released on their Marlee Label. Later it was licensed to Swan Records. A year later it was re-discovered by, WNDR DJ Dan Leonard which made it a hit again.[11][12][13] In 1965, Brodie had success with "The Hump", a single by The Invictas which he put out on his Sahara label. It was a number one in Miami, it made The Billboard Top 100. Locally it also outsold "Ticket To Ride" by The Beatles.[14][15]

In 1973, his partnership of Transcontinental Record Sales and Best & Gold Distribution was brought out by Leonard Silver.[16]

1980s to 1990s

In 1982, Elvis Wade an Elvis impersonator who Brodie had originally met in Texas in September, 1977 took him to court. Accusing Brodie of not fulfilling a contract, he was awarded $75,000. The claims that Wade made were that he was promised by Brodie, a role in a film, a recording contract, Las Vegas billing, a movie role, television special, and big money. Brodie denied discussing a movie or a TV 2 special. Brodie said that he had spent $61,677 producing and promoting records for Wade which had flopped. He also said that he didn't get any money from the records.[17][18]

In 1991, he founded Forevermore Records with his nephew Christopher Biehler.[19]

Thunderbird Records

In 1967, Brodie was on the West Coast promoting an act from Buffalo, The Rogues with their single "Say You Love Me".[20][21] In 1969, The Sir Men had their single, "You're Never Gonna Find Another Love" released on the label.[22] A Hot 100 pick,[23] the master of the single had been acquired from the label by Kama Sutra and released on that label[24] where it became a hit.[25][26] Another success for the label was in 1970 with "Heat Wave" by The Seven which was released on Thunderbird TH 534. It was on the WOLF chart for seven weeks.[27][28]

Death

Brodie died of a heart attack on March 15, 2004. He was 77 years of age.[29]

Production work
Singles
Act Release Catalogue Year Role Notes #
Wilmer Alexander Jr. And The Dukes "Living In The U.S.A." / "Get It" Aphrodisiac APH-269 1971 Producer [30]
Brad Swanson And His Whispering Organ Sound "Ragtime '74 (A Tribute To Robert Redford)" / "What'll I Do" Thunderbird TH550 1974 Producer
South Orange Mummers Band "God Bless America" / "Happy Days Are Here Again" Thunderbird TH 551 1974 Producer [31]
Wilmer Alexander Jr. & the Dukes "Give Me One More Chance" / "Get It" Original Gold OR 502 Executive producer [32]


Albums
Act Release Catalogue Year Role Notes #
Brad Swanson 22 Great Ragtime Hits Thunderbird THDX 9018-2 1974 Executive producer 2LP
Link Wray And His Ray Men Jack The Ripper Forevermore FVRCD-5002 1994 Executive producer CD
Brad Swanson 22 All-Time Organ Favorites By Brad Swanson
and his Whispering Organ Sound		 Forevermore – FVRCD 5004 Executive producer
John Ellison, Soul Brothers Six The Very Best Of John Ellison And The Soul Brothers Six Forevermore FVR 5009 Producer
Various artists Walk That Walk! Forevermore – FVR 5010 1995 Producer CD

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References
  1. Scotty and Elvis: Aboard the Mystery Train, By Scotty Moore - Page 143
  2. Billboard, May 1, 1965 - Page 58 Master's Bows LP of Polkas
  3. Popsike - ROCKIN' REBELS WILD WEEKEND SWAN SLP-509 SUPER RARE LP
  4. Billboard, April 17, 2004 - Page 76 MILEPOSTS
  5. Billboard, April 17, 2004 - Page 76 MILEPOSTS
  6. Billboard, August 16, 1969 - Page 58International News Reports, NEW YORK
  7. Scotty and Elvis: Aboard the Mystery Train, By Scotty Moore - Page 143
  8. The Billboard, January 11, 1960 - Page 6 MUSIC NEWS, Brodie Adds 2 One-Stops
  9. Billboard, June 20, 1960 - Page 51 MUSIC AS WRITTEN, New York - Bob Rolontz
  10. AllMusic - Thomas Wayne Biography
  11. Popsike - ROCKIN' REBELS WILD WEEKEND SWAN SLP-509 SUPER RARE LP
  12. Billboard, April 17, 2004 - Page 76 MILEPOSTS
  13. CD Baby - Wild Weekend by Rockin' Rebels, Album Notes
  14. Rochester City Newspaper, Jun 1, 2005 - Still humpin' after all these years By Frank De Blase
  15. Rochester Institute of Technology - Success Stories
    ’60s band formed at RIT is on the road again in a big Caddy hearse.
    Rockers haven’t gotten over ‘The Hump’
  16. Billboard, September 29, 1973 - Page 66 Late News, Inside Track, Silver & Hawk Tee Off Label
  17. CourtListener - Cummins v. Brodie, 667 S.W.2d 759 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1983)
  18. The Tennessean, Wednesday, December 1, 1982 - Page 8 Singer Elvis Wade Awarded $75,000 Court Judgment By ED CROMER
  19. FOREVERMORE - About Us
  20. Opulent Conceptions, August 28, 2010 - THE ROGUES - SECONDARY MAN
  21. Billboard, August 16, 1969 - Page 58International News Reports, NEW YORK
  22. 45Cat - The Sir Men - Discography
  23. Billboard, August 16, 1969 - Page 30 Radio-TV Programming, OTHER PICKS, HOT 100
  24. Record World, November 22, 1969 - Page 30 Buddah Reactivates Kama Sutra
  25. Record World , April 11, 1970 - Page 26 Record World ONE STOP Top Ten
  26. Syracuse New Times, June 8, 2016 - ARTS, A Rockin’ Sunday Sermon By Bill DeLapp
  27. Discogs - The Seven, Discography, Singles & EPs
  28. History of Syracuse Music, Monday, January 30, 2012 - HISTORY OF SYRACUSE MUSIC - CHAPTER 25 - "THE SEVEN" (1969-72) ** UPDATE**
  29. Billboard, April 17, 2004 - Page 76 MILEPOSTS
  30. 45Cat - Wilmer Alexander Jr. And The Dukes - Discography
  31. 45Cat - Thunderbird - Label Discography
  32. Discogs - Steve Brodie, Discography, Production
  33. Discogs - Steve Brodie, Discography, Production
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