Hy Weiss(1923-2007)
- Soundtrack
Born in Romania in 1923, Hyman ("Hy") Weiss emigrated to the US with his family in 1924, and they settled in the Bronx, New York. There he became friends with a young man who would also grow to become a major power in the music industry: Morris Levy, the famous (some say infamous) founder and owner of Roulette Records.
During World War Ii Weiss served in the US Army Air Force, and after the war held a variety of jobs. He entered the music business as a record salesman, and found that the industry suited him so much that he and his brother Sam established their own label, Parody Records, in 1949. Four years later he began Old Town Records. The label specialized in what became known as "doo-wop" rock, and also had a roster of blues singers. Its first big hit was "We Belong Together" by Robert & Johnny in 1958, and it later had hits with such artists as The Capris, Larry Chance & The Earls and Arthur Prysock. Weiss sold Old Town, and its catalog, to Atlantic Records in 1970. He subsequently went to work for Stax Records, but in 1973 he revived Old Town to release records by Prysock, and kept it going until 1978. His son, Barry Weiss, also was in the music business, heading such labels as Island Records, Def Jam and Universal/Motown.
Hy Weiss died in Englewood, NJ, on March 20, 2007.
During World War Ii Weiss served in the US Army Air Force, and after the war held a variety of jobs. He entered the music business as a record salesman, and found that the industry suited him so much that he and his brother Sam established their own label, Parody Records, in 1949. Four years later he began Old Town Records. The label specialized in what became known as "doo-wop" rock, and also had a roster of blues singers. Its first big hit was "We Belong Together" by Robert & Johnny in 1958, and it later had hits with such artists as The Capris, Larry Chance & The Earls and Arthur Prysock. Weiss sold Old Town, and its catalog, to Atlantic Records in 1970. He subsequently went to work for Stax Records, but in 1973 he revived Old Town to release records by Prysock, and kept it going until 1978. His son, Barry Weiss, also was in the music business, heading such labels as Island Records, Def Jam and Universal/Motown.
Hy Weiss died in Englewood, NJ, on March 20, 2007.
