|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZPERRY, Richard(b 18 June '42, Brooklyn, NY) Record producer with notable success in '70s. From musical family; played in local groups during high school years, studied music at U. of Michigan; interested in musical theatre, went to NYC to do some (bass) singing and dancing, but began to write songs with Kenny Vance of Jay And The Americans. His early group was the Legends, who changed their name to the Escorts, recorded for Coral, gigged at Peppermint Lounge etc (lead singer Goldie Zelkowitz later became Genya Ravan). Turned from performing to production late '60s, oversaw several obscure singles, got to know bosses at Red Bird Records (Leiber & Stoller and George Goldner, whose daughter Linda he married). Moved to L.A.; first notable project was seminal Safe As Milk by Captain Beefheart; worked for WB/Reprise, prod. Tiny Tim (an amusing fluke of the early '70s, whom Perry had discovered in NYC), also Fats Domino (Fats Is Back), Ella Fitzgerald, Anders & Poncia, Theodore Bikel; three LPs for all-girl group Fanny. Subsequent freelance work incl. three LPs for Barbra Streisand (incl. Stoney End, with Fanny backing), Harry Nilsson's two best sellers Nilsson Schmilsson and Son Of Schmilsson (incl. no. 1 single "Without You'), three LPs for Carly Simon (incl. No Secrets, with no. 1 hit "You're So Vain'), Andy Williams' last hit LP Solitaire, two for Ringo Starr '73-4 (Ringo and Goodnight Vienna, incl. no. 1 hits "Photographs' and "You're Sixteen'). Admittedly the '70s were a boring decade, but Perry prod. some of its most memorable work, carrying on with highly regarded (if not huge selling) debut solo LP for Martha Reeves '74, top 10 Art Garfunkel Breakaway '75, Manhattan Transfer's Coming Out '77 (no. 1 UK hit "Chanson D'Amour'), disappointing Diana Ross LP Baby It's You '77. Back in the charts '76-8 with three Leo Sayer LPs incl. two more no. 1 USA singles "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing' and "Long Tall Glasses', making six Perry-prod. no. ones. Formed own Planet label '78; best act was the Pointer Sisters, incl. top 3 singles "Fire', "He's So Shy', "Slow Hand', "Jump (For My Love)'; sold Planet to RCA. |