Harvey Glatt
Encyclopedia
Harvey Glatt is a notable and award-winning Canadian music promoter, manager, broadcaster, record and instrument retailer, and record label owner.
in 1951. He thereafter obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration
degree in 1956 from the Clarkson College of Technology in Potsdam
, New York.
Glatt commenced his professional association with music in the early 1950s, as a broadcaster, both at Clarkson College and for CFRA Radio in Ottawa. In 1957, he opened his first retail music store, The Treble Clef, in Ottawa, which grew to a chain of fifteen stores. Glatt also expanded into concert promotion (through Bass Clef Productions), music distribution (through Treble Clef Distribution) and music publishing (through Bytown Music Publishing). Glatt's interest in music publishing had evolved from his management experiences with Ottawa-area bands, particularly The Children, which featured William Hawkins
and, in later versions, Bruce Cockburn
and David Wiffen
. In particular, he had encouraged Hawkins, a poet, to complement his poetry with songwriting. Songs by Hawkins, Cockburn and Wiffen were published by Bytown Music Publishing. In the later 1960s, Glatt also managed The Soul Searchers, an influential Toronto-based band featuring keyboardist William "Smitty" Smith, drummer Eric "Mouse" Johnson, singer Diane Brooks and others, all of whom went on to play important roles in the music industry in Canada and the U.S.A. Glatt was also an investor in Le Hibou Coffee House
, which promoted many international artists as well as local bands, such as The Children.
Through Bass Clef Productions, Glatt became the major producer of concerts of international artists playing in Ottawa. For example, it was Glatt who brought Jimi Hendrix
to Ottawa, for an historic concert in March 1968, when Hendrix also met Joni Mitchell
. Mitchell was playing at the Glatt-financed Le Hibou Coffee House
that same evening.
In 1977, Glatt founded CHEZ-FM
, an Ottawa-based rock radio station, which was notable for its promotion of Canadian as well as international artists. Glatt's radio holdings expanded through the 1984 acquisition of the CKUE and CJET
radio stations in Smiths Falls, Ontario
, the broadcasting ranges of which included Ottawa. In 1985, he acquired a 75% interest in Calgary's CKIK
, assisting it during a period of financial distress, and then selling his interest ten years later. To concentrate on his radio interests, Glatt sold his Treble Clef record stores in 1979 and his Bass Clef concert promotion business in 1985. In 1999, Glatt sold his radio interests to Rogers Media
and served with Rogers as a board member (1999–2004) and director of Canadian music development (1999–2005). In 2007, he was an investor, along with Linus Entertainment
, in the acquisition of True North Records
.
In 2007, Glatt was honoured through his induction by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters
into the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame
.
History
Glatt, born in Ottawa, Canada, graduated from Glebe Collegiate InstituteGlebe Collegiate Institute
Glebe Collegiate Institute is a high school in the Glebe neighbourhood of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Administered by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, Glebe Collegiate Institute has approximately 1,500 students; students and sports teams are referred to as "Gryphons".The school offers many...
in 1951. He thereafter obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration
Bachelor of Business Administration
The Bachelor of Business Administration is a bachelor's degree in Commerce and business administration. In most universities, the degree is conferred upon a student after four years of full-time study in one or more areas of business concentrations; see below...
degree in 1956 from the Clarkson College of Technology in Potsdam
Potsdam (town), New York
Potsdam is a town located in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 15,957 at the 2000 census. The ZIP code is 13676. The town is named after the city of Potsdam in Germany...
, New York.
Glatt commenced his professional association with music in the early 1950s, as a broadcaster, both at Clarkson College and for CFRA Radio in Ottawa. In 1957, he opened his first retail music store, The Treble Clef, in Ottawa, which grew to a chain of fifteen stores. Glatt also expanded into concert promotion (through Bass Clef Productions), music distribution (through Treble Clef Distribution) and music publishing (through Bytown Music Publishing). Glatt's interest in music publishing had evolved from his management experiences with Ottawa-area bands, particularly The Children, which featured William Hawkins
William Hawkins (songwriter and poet)
William Alfred Hawkins is a songwriter, poet, musician and journalist, most notable for his contributions in the 1960s to Canadian folk rock music and to Canadian poetry...
and, in later versions, Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Douglas Cockburn OC is a Canadian folk/rock guitarist and singer-songwriter. His most recent album was released in March 2011. He has written songs in styles ranging from folk to jazz-influenced rock to rock and roll.-Biography:...
and David Wiffen
David Wiffen
David Wiffen is a Canadian folk music singer-songwriter. Two of his songs, "Driving Wheel" and "More Often Than Not", have become cover standards.- Career :...
. In particular, he had encouraged Hawkins, a poet, to complement his poetry with songwriting. Songs by Hawkins, Cockburn and Wiffen were published by Bytown Music Publishing. In the later 1960s, Glatt also managed The Soul Searchers, an influential Toronto-based band featuring keyboardist William "Smitty" Smith, drummer Eric "Mouse" Johnson, singer Diane Brooks and others, all of whom went on to play important roles in the music industry in Canada and the U.S.A. Glatt was also an investor in Le Hibou Coffee House
Le Hibou Coffee House
Le Hibou Coffee House was an internationally known coffee house established in Ottawa, Canada, operating from 1960 to 1975.- History :Denis Faulkner, an Ottawa francophone, was the founding owner manager from 1960 to 1968. It was during this period that Le Hibou became established as a now famous...
, which promoted many international artists as well as local bands, such as The Children.
Through Bass Clef Productions, Glatt became the major producer of concerts of international artists playing in Ottawa. For example, it was Glatt who brought Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
to Ottawa, for an historic concert in March 1968, when Hendrix also met Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell, CC is a Canadian musician, singer songwriter, and painter. Mitchell began singing in small nightclubs in her native Saskatchewan and Western Canada and then busking in the streets and dives of Toronto...
. Mitchell was playing at the Glatt-financed Le Hibou Coffee House
Le Hibou Coffee House
Le Hibou Coffee House was an internationally known coffee house established in Ottawa, Canada, operating from 1960 to 1975.- History :Denis Faulkner, an Ottawa francophone, was the founding owner manager from 1960 to 1968. It was during this period that Le Hibou became established as a now famous...
that same evening.
In 1977, Glatt founded CHEZ-FM
CHEZ-FM
CHEZ-FM is a Canadian radio station, which broadcasts classic rock at 106.1 FM in Ottawa. The station uses the brand name CHEZ 106 .-History:...
, an Ottawa-based rock radio station, which was notable for its promotion of Canadian as well as international artists. Glatt's radio holdings expanded through the 1984 acquisition of the CKUE and CJET
CJET-FM
CJET-FM is a Canadian radio station. Licensed to Smiths Falls, Ontario, the station serves the larger metropolitan Ottawa market. CJET broadcasts at 92.3 FM, programming an adult hits format with the brand name Jack FM.-History:...
radio stations in Smiths Falls, Ontario
Smiths Falls, Ontario
Smiths Falls is a town in Eastern Ontario, Canada. It is in the census division for Lanark County, but is considered a separated town and does not participate in county government...
, the broadcasting ranges of which included Ottawa. In 1985, he acquired a 75% interest in Calgary's CKIK
CFGQ-FM
CFGQ-FM is a Canadian radio station broadcasting at 107.3 MHz FM stereo in Calgary, Alberta.-History:The station was launched on April 15, 1982 as CKIK-FM, and first broadcast an adult album rock format. Throughout the 1980s and much of the 1990s, CKIK-FM played a variety of rock formats...
, assisting it during a period of financial distress, and then selling his interest ten years later. To concentrate on his radio interests, Glatt sold his Treble Clef record stores in 1979 and his Bass Clef concert promotion business in 1985. In 1999, Glatt sold his radio interests to Rogers Media
Rogers Media
Rogers Media Inc is a subsidiary of Rogers Communications Inc., which owns Canada's largest publishing company, Rogers Publishing Limited, which has more than 70 consumer and business publications. Rogers Media Inc...
and served with Rogers as a board member (1999–2004) and director of Canadian music development (1999–2005). In 2007, he was an investor, along with Linus Entertainment
Linus Entertainment
Linus Entertainment is a record label based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.The company was started by Geoff Kulawick, who previously was vice president of A&R at Virgin Records/EMI Music Canada....
, in the acquisition of True North Records
True North Records
True North Records is a Canadian independent record label. It was founded in Mississauga, Ontario in 1969 by Bernie Finkelstein. On December 17, 2007, True North was acquired by an investment group led by Linus Entertainment...
.
In 2007, Glatt was honoured through his induction by the Canadian Association of Broadcasters
Canadian Association of Broadcasters
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters was the national voice of Canada's private broadcasters, representing the vast majority of Canadian programming services, including private radio and television stations, specialty, pay and pay-per-view services....
into the Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame
Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame
The Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame, started in 1982, recognizes Canadians in broadcasting or entertainment related industries who have "achieved outstanding success in helping raise industry standards from a material or humanitarian standpoint."...
.