EAST COASTINGS / POINTS WEST

N.Y. Music Directors (continued from page 32) Meet The Artists THE COMMODORES have set their first world tour, to begin March 18 in Birmingham, England ... The Music and Performing Arts Lodge of B'nai B'rith will host "An Evening With Norm Weiser," president of Chappell Music Company, starting 7:15 at Central Syna- gogue, 123 E. 55th St.. on Monday March 14. phil dimauro POINTS WEST - WELCOME TO LA. - First it was Gary Cohen and 4 members of the CB Research department. Then it was Herb Corsack and Amanda Schuster of Island. Now we extend a premature welcome to Howard Rosen and Soozin Kaszick, who are leaving Mid - song and Columbia respectively, to join Casablanca here in the west. And a welcome, too. to Mort Weiner and the RCA custom labels, who will be making this part of town their home. Farewell, meanwhile, to George Furness, Atlantic's top-notch west coast promotion direc- tor, who has seen many changes in his years in the business. Among those at a farewell party in the Beverly Hills Hotel Rodeo Room were CB president and publisher George Albert, who took time out from NARM and A/A chairman Ahmet Ertegun ... And speaking of Atlantic, we hear that Mick Jagger and the Stones, after shopping around the U.S. for a

label deal, are about to re-sign with Atlantic .. . OFF THE CUFF OR IN THE BUFF? - If Elton John is a man of his word, Britons may be seeing more of him than ever before. Last November, on a London radio show with Roger Scott, Elton remarked that, although he DOWN-HOME GOES UPTOWN Atco recording artists the Winters Brothers Band were personally liked Bob Seger's "Night Moves" it was - his opinion that commercial radio wasn't ready for it yet. In fact, he boasted that the heard in New York city recently, as WLIR carried a live broadcast of the Tennessee based if single ever became a number one single, he would hire band from My Father's Place on Long Island. Pictured standing (I-r) are: Band members Wembley Stadium outside London and dance naked on stage. The record has in Gene Watson and David "Spig" Davis; Denis McNamara, music director of WLIR; Michael been the top ten for weeks now and if it does reach the summit, Elton may Epstein, club owner; Bill Cataldo, local promotion man for Atlantic/Atco; Kent Harris, band show off a few of his own night moves ... Speaking of Britons, a citizen journalist of the Crown colony was member; and Robert Stewart, Sound Seventy management. Seated are band members overheard asking quite a cheeky ques- tion of Ms. Dolly a Dennis Winters and Donnie Winters. Parton at recent Bistro party following her performance at the Anaheim Convention Center the day before. Ever in search of journalistic truth, the scribe wanted to know if Miss Dolly used silicone injections to boost her "stature." As sweet as natural honey, Miss Dolly replied that they were indeed a natural phenomenon but if they were not she would consider better living through chemistry. ON THE DOTTED LINE - Private Stock Records has announced the signing of Brownsville Station in a reunion with label chief Larry Uttal, who worked with the group when he headed Bell Records. The group's first release will be produced by Eddie Kramer who has s.la also worked with Kiss, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin .. . The Addrisi Brothers have signed with Buddah ... Polydor has announced the .1. signing of new band 141,"'MSSw Stormin' Norman & Suzy, a Boston bar band that was discovered in NYC's Tramps last fall. TOTS ON THE TUBE - The Keane Brothers, who at age 12 and 11 are barely old enough to have pimples, have been signed to star in a prime -time variety television series on CBS. Production will begin in May for the half-hour shows, which will appear on the CBS summer schedule. We're told that this is the first time that sub -teen artists have been han - led a prime -time network headlining assignment ... Four years ago he was the arranger, composer and piano player for Bette Midler at the Continental Baths. Now he's Barry Manilow and you're not, and doing quite well, thank you! His March 2 TV special on ABC drew a national audience of 35 million, beating out all the competition in his time slot with a 21.9 Nielsen, easily outdistancing "Minstrel Man" at 17.0 and Dean Martin at 16.8... Smil- GIANT CUTUPS - Following a recent performance at New York City's Avery Fisher Hall, ing John Davidson has been signed to star in a Columbia television pilot entitled "The Capitol recording artists cut up backstage with Tom Morrera, music director Quentin Method," a 90 -minute light adventure film in which Davidson will playa contem- of WNEW-FM. Pictured (l -r) are: of Gentle Giant; Irwin Sirotta, eastern porary jet-set entrepreneur ... In a mini -media battle, television commitments by the ar- AOR promotion of Capitol records; of Gentle Giant; Morrera; and John tists have caused the postponement of the ABC Radio Network presentation, "Country Weathers, and Kerry Minnear of Gentle Giant. Comes to Carnegie Hall," which will feature Roy Clark, Freddy Fender. Hank Thompson, Buck Trent and Don Williams. Retailer Reluctance To STUDIO STIRRINGS - Blood, Sweat & Tears are back at it in United Western studios $7.98 Fades once again working with Roy Ha lee, who is co -producing their first album for ABC with (continued from page 28) severely hurt any retailer. "We're only in group member Bobby Columby. They have not worked together since 1971. However. when the two were working together, every effort they had went gold ... Lenny Waronker is about 15% one small area (of the city) now," Miko in the past three or four weeks." producing Greg Allman and his band, including ex -Cowboy and Wet Willie band mem- However, noted, "and there's plenty of room to go LeAnnais indicated he planned to bers. The album is due out in April... Jeff Beck and Jan Hammer will release their joint ef- begin around." advertising more heavily in the fort later this month... Wally Heider Recording has just purchased six 24 -track tape recor- Detroit Free Press and on radio. "I haven't ders for live remote and studio sessions ... The Who's John Entwistle is not only working done too much (promoting) PR Veteran AI Ross yet," LeAnnais on his new solo album but also on a book of cartoons ... Roger Daltrey's solo album is due added, "but I think we'll start recovering af- Opens Press Office Ltd. out in late spring and will feature such guest stars as Paul McCartney, Alvin Lee, Peter ter awhile." NEW YORK Music industry public rela- Townsend, John Entwistle and Mick Ronson. "There was some fear among retailers - tions man Al Ross has formed a new PR SON OF WOODSTOCK Richard Flanzer & Associates have announced a two-day before they (Peaches) moved in," noted - firm, The Press Office, Ltd., with offices at Easter week festival to be held in Lakeland, Florida April 2nd and 3rd. The Florida Sun fest Garud MacTaggart, manager of one of Har- 645 Madison Ave. here. Ross, a former will be held on 500 acres which includes full camping facilities, showers, toilets, food, etc. mony House's six area stores, "but it hasn't partner in the firm of Levinson and Ross, The cost for the event is only $10 per head and the line-up of confirmed acts is impressive. worked out badly." has represented such music personalities So far scheduled are: Jimmy Buffett, Orleans, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Richie Havens, MacTaggart said sales in his store have as Glen Campbell, Paul McCartney and Pure Prairie League, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Leon Redbone, Jonathan Edwards and even gone up since the Peaches opening, Barbra Streisand. partly because the chain lowered its sale (continued on page 50) price on selected LPs from $3.97 to $3.77 and has been advertising much more on from WNIC and CKLW. MacTaggart added it is CBS Names 5 Regional Marketing VP's (continued page 9) not uncommon now for Harmony House to in 1963. He was promoted to branch sales manager in Minneapolis. In 1972, he moved to Chicago in the same capacity. He sell LPs at $3.77, $3.97 and $4.97, a form of manager, Chicago in 1967, a position he was promoted to branch manager, New was promoted to director, special projects "variable pricing." held until 1975 when he was made regional York and two years later became regional in New York in 1967 and a year later "It's still early," he concluded. "We'll see director, southeastern region. director, northeast region. became assistant to the director of national what happens after Peaches fully es- Ron Piccolo, vice president, marketing, Don Van Gorp, vice president, sales in New York. That year he was again tablishes itself." northeastern region, began at CBS marketing, midwestern region, joined CBS promoted, this time to regional director of Other record retailers and mass Records as an operations manager in Records as regional sales manager in sales, east coast. In 1969, he became merchandisers such as Discount Records Chicago. Four years later he was made Detroit in 1963. Two years later, he was regional director, midwest region. and Musicland have been a little more visi- ble in the past few weeks, sources said, but pricing and promotion have remained relatively stable. One retailer hinted that the Detroit market could see major expansion in the coming months, with the rumoured open- ing of another Peaches outlet and a seventh Harmony House store. Frank Miko, vice president of Nehi Record Distributing Co., which owns Peaches, said the chain was looking at other sites in the area. "The Detroit opening is the best we've ever had," Miko asserted, noting that he didn't believe Peaches had Mert Paul Ron Piccolo Don Van Gorp Del Costello Frank Mooney

42 Cash Box/March 19, 1977

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