cash box, international news Canadian Notes Ringo, Ex -Mates Midani Selected WEA Brazil TORONTO - Bobby Curtola has been signed to RCA Ltd. in Canada by Ed On Polydor Soon Preston, general manager and vice pres- PARIS - has signed with Discos Managing Director ident of RCA's record division here. Reg- Polydor for European distribution of his LOS ANGELES Andre Midani has been appointed managing director of Discos ularly appearing in next - Las Vegas, Curtola hit album, due to be released at the WEA Brazil by Nesuhi Ertegun, president of WEA International. Midani joins WEA international prominence in the mid - beginning of The June. LP will feature Brazil after an eight year stay with Phonogram. Under Midani's managerial direction, sixties with the single, "Fortune Teller." material written by , George Phonogram grew to be the biggest company in Latin America. Prior to Phonogram An album has already been recorded at Harrison, Paul McCartney and John Len- Midani was general manager of Capitol Records in Mexico. He opened that company Phase One Studios in Toronto, to be re- non, which should make it an historical for EMI in 1964. Aside from his executive abilities, Midani has a reputation for being leased in the U.S. by American Artists. issue, of sorts. able to recognize talent, having discovered Joao Gilberto, Jorge Ben, Caetano, Ronnie Hawkins has left Canada for an The Oyster label, which is handling Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa and Maria Bethania, and signing them all to recording con- undetermined Deep Purple is period of time to scout for catalog, also handling ex - tracts. song material and to secure an interna- members of that band through Polydor. Midani came to the record business in 1952 as a stock clerk for Decca in France tional record contract for himself. At one First offering, to be released soon, is and soon became a salesman for the firm. In 1955 he went to Africa to make ethnic re- time signed to Roulette, the legendary Richie Blackmore's next album, "Rain- cordings and in 1956 he joined EMI Brazil to work as label chief and promotion man. rock 'n' roller cut two big hits in 1959 bow Rising." Before going to Mexico Midani opened a Latin America record company for EMI following one hour of rehearsal in New Polydor France has also organized a which sold records on a successful door-to-door basis. York: "Forty Days" and "Mary Lou." His tour of France later this month for the Ian Nesuhi Ertegun, referring to Midani's appointment, said "I am extremely happy that backup band, then The Hawks, were Gillan (also former Deep Purple singer) WEA International will now have on its team a record of his importance and later to leave him and rename them- Band. The tour will play one dozen dates executive his talents. With Midani as head of our Brazilian company, the incredible catalog we selves The Band. His present location is including Paris' specialized pop club, have from our companies all over the world will get full total in the in the Malibu Beach area of California Bataclan April 26. and exposure Brazilian market. Also I know he will come up with important Brazilian music that will where sources say he is working out with be significant not only in Brazil, to I feel that members of The Band, Bob Dylan, Leon but our companies throughout the world. this is the most important Russell and Kris Kristofferson. one of appointments in the history of WEA International." Discos WEA Brazil will start operations July 1, with offices in Rio de Janeiro and David Clayton Thomas is winding up Sao Paulo. sessions with Blood, Sweat and Tears in New York. He is presently considering offers to record a solo album, meanwhile Heads EMI Appointments all members of Blood, Sweat and Tears Hill has are scheduled at Ontario Place, June 22. - EMI Limited appointed Chuck Berry in May for a series of UK in Toronto. Thomas recently finished a number of new divisional directors. concerts. production on an album for GRT Rec- Leslie Hill has become director of UK DJM has announced that David Mac- ords with a Toronto -based reggae band, record operations and managing director Dougal and Frank Neilson have joined Ishan People. Recorded at Thunder of EMI Records; William E. Ingham shifts the firm as tape product manager and as- Sound, the LP is skedded for May re- to director of central research laborator- sistant tape product manager respective- lease in Canada. ies; Graham J. Powell is now president of ly. Both were previously with Precision Former Guess Who member Domenic EMI (North America) Inc. and EMI Tech- Tapes. Former Power Exchange creative Troiano has formed a new band and has nology Inc.; Bryan C.W. Semain assumes services director Trisha O'Keefe has also just played a select number of dates in the role of director of public relations; joined the firm as international product southern Ontario. The whirlwind tour and Rex F. Thorne is now director of in- manager and Mike Allen, former field culminated in Toronto on April 24 where dustrial electronics. In other announce- promotion man for the Midlands area, CHUM -FM broadcast a one hour set, ments, Neil Sarsfield has been named has been appointed head of field promo- live. Plans are underway to edit the tapes managing director of EMI Singapore Pte tions. On the international front, Barry Ltd., continuing his duties as head of Saich has been made UK creative from the broadcast and issue a limited FRESH AND FORMER ROLLERS - Ian number of albums from them. Following Mitchell (left), newest member EMI Thailand; Paul Ewing, formerly sales services coordinator, previously being of manager has been made director and general administrator of Dick James the Mocambo date, The Domenic Scotland's Bay City Rollers, is pictured general manager of EMI Hong Kong Music, artist agency division. Troiano Band leaves for the U.S. to with Alan Longmuir (the man in the suit) Ltd.; and David Allen and John Keat have Roland Kommell, vice secure a recording contract for interna- whom he replaces. Longmuir, who president of been promoted to the board of SE (EMI) Polydor International has celebrated his tional release. founded the band with brother Derek in Labs Ltd. 25th anniversary in the Polydor or- the late sixties, will continue to act in the ganization. Kommell originally joined the Rollers' behalf as a director of the Bay Other U.K. News Siemens Company in 1951 City Music publishing company. Long- and, after Bergeret Pubbery Independent producer Tom Newman three years, went to Deutsche Gram- muir gave exhausting tour schedules has signed a deal with Decca Records for mophon. He has worked in all areas of and adverse personal publicity as his re- Busy Business independent production and acquisition the record company including a&r and asons for stepping out of the performing BUENOS AIRES of new product by Newman for the Dec- marketing to his position vice - Bernardo Bergeret, role. Mitchell has already joined the present of manager of Trompos Publishing, ca label. Newman was responsible for president. as- band, in the wake of Longmuir's depar- sociated with TV Globo of Brazil, report- the production of the Mike Oldfield For the first time ever in his 50 -year ture, as guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist. ed extreme happiness to CB about the album, "Tubular Bells." and the design career, Bing Crosby is to appear live on a fact that four tunes in Argentina's top and building of Manor Studios for Virgin London stage. Commencing June 21 for twenty belong to the pubbery. Bernardo Records. He is currently constructing his two weeks Crosby will play the London is also director of Vozing Records, which BBC, Teichiku Pact own studio complex on a barge moored Palladium with legendary jazz pianist Joe produces recordings through other TOKYO - Teichiku Record Co. Ltd. has at London's Little Venice. The Decca Bushkin and English comedian Ted labels, and has eighteen LPs scheduled concluded an exclusive agreement with deal was negotiated by Hugh Mendl and Rogers and his family. Special guest star for release on several labels during April BBC Records of England, representing a Frank Rogers of Decca and Mick Mc- will be Rosemary Clooney. This engage- and May. step forward in Teichiku's intended ex- Donagh for Newman. ment will mark Crosby's 50th anniversary Producer Fabian Ross is traveling to pansion of international repertoire. Prior Johnny Mathis has just completed his in show business. and all proceeds from the states to get in touch with the music to this, the company had acquired two third successful tour of the UK in four the event will go to the National Society scene in Los Angeles and New York. He other British labels, Bradley and Con- years, playing a total of 35 engagements for Cancer Relief and the Duke of Edin- will also stop at Rio de Janeiro before re- tempo, at the beginning of this year. The including three at the London Palladium, burgh Playing Field Association chari- turning to Buenos Aires in about two BBC label operates under the umbrella grossing half a million dollars in total. ties. Crosby's last appearance in the UK months. In the meantime, RCA is releas- of BBC broadcasting and concentrates While in the UK, CBS Records presented was in 1944 entertaining the allied ing one of his latest productions, a new on easy -listening material. him four silver disks for albums he has troops. When asked by the promoter why volume of "Pato C Special," the hit dis- released over the last eighteen months. he consented to returning to England he cotheque series. The tour was promoted by Derek Block, replied, "Otherwise where would I go to EMI -Odeon has given another "award who is bringing in Al Martino in June and play golf?" to artist outstanding in sales." In this case Rex Barry Named it was to two Spanish chanters, Dyango Tokuma Reflects Strong Fiscal Half and Manolo Otero, who received the Astor Records' TOKYO - Tokuma Music Industries Co., Ltd., under the direction of president Tasu- awards for sales of their singles during yoshi Tokuma, has brought together branch managers from throughout Japan in or- 1975. Dyango taped also a successful TV Nat'l. Sales Mgr. der to confirm business results of fiscal year 1975 (Mar. 21, 1975 to Mar. 20, 1976) show, and promoted his new single, MELBOURNE - Rex Barry, who joined and to discuss plans for the first half -term of the fiscal year 1976 (Mar. 21, 1976 to "Senor Munoz." Astor Records four years ago as a sales Sept. 20, 1976). CBS' group Los de Siempre is having a representative and was promoted to Vic- At the meeting it was disclosed that fiscal 1975 sales showed an increase in com- new strong single, "Crepusculo torian sales manager within three parison with the previous year. Prime contributors were popular singers Hiroshi Itsuki Perdido," which appears as a sure chart months, has been appointed national and Masako Mori. Aside from them, Junko Ogawa, a female artist was prominent, hav- rider. The tune is receiving strong pro- sales manager for the company by ing been named new artist of 1976. Together with some established singers, Midori motion on radio and the group is appear- Neville Smith, general manager. Nishizaki, Masao Sen and Kaoru Yumi, Tokuma sales were heavily boosted. ing on TV and shows. Their music is a Bob Millar, originally a sales represen- A sales target for the first half -term of fiscal 1976 was set at 20% more than the mixture of folk, rock and pop, which tative and most recently involved in na- same term of the previous year. The company is expected to carry out this target makes it strongly appealing to the teen tional promotions, takes over the Vic- through the promotion of jazz and classics as well as new music. At the same time. market. torian sales post vacated by Barry. Tokuma is to lay emphasis on new artists of the Minoruphone label.

May 1, 1976 51 www.americanradiohistory.com