Howie Klein
Encyclopedia
Howie Klein is an American
DJ, music producer, record label founder, record label executive, and political blog
ger, who was president of Reprise Records
from 1989 to 2001.
Born in Brooklyn
in 1950, Klein was a co-founder, with Chris Knab and Butch Bridges, of the San Francisco new wave
record label, 415 Records
. and discovered Romeo Void
, Translator
and Wire Train
among others. When he lived in San Francisco, he hosted a long-running Sunday night program on KUSF
. He joined Sire Records
in 1987 and was president of Reprise
/Warner Bros. Records
between 1989 and 2001. During his tenure he attracted artists such as Lou Reed
, with whom he had worked while at Sire, to the upscale label. After the Time Warner
merger with AOL
, Klein accepted a buyout. As it happened, the day he retired was the day that the Reprise band Wilco
turned in its disputed album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
, which the Washington Post observed marked a "seismic shift" from the label's former "artist-friendly" reputation.
Klein received a Spirit of Liberty Award in 1999 from People for the American Way
for his anti-censorship efforts. Klein was honored by the American Civil Liberties Union
of Southern California "Bill of Rights Award" for his activism in the area of free speech.
Klein now lives in Los Angeles
, where he writes the progressive political blog, DownWithTyranny! and regularly guest blogs on Crooks and Liars
.com's Late Night Music Club feature. He is also an adjunct professor of music at McGill University
in Montreal where he sometimes lectures.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
DJ, music producer, record label founder, record label executive, and political blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
ger, who was president of Reprise Records
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
from 1989 to 2001.
Born in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
in 1950, Klein was a co-founder, with Chris Knab and Butch Bridges, of the San Francisco new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
record label, 415 Records
415 Records
415 Records was a San Francisco record label created in 1978. The label focused its efforts on local punk rock and new wave music acts of the late 1970s through the late 1980s, including The Offs, The Nuns, Romeo Void, and Wire Train...
. and discovered Romeo Void
Romeo Void
Romeo Void was an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed in 1979. The band primarily consisted of saxophonist Benjamin Bossi, vocalist Debora Iyall, guitarist Peter Woods, and bassist Frank Zincavage. The band went through four drummers, starting with Jay Derrah and ending with...
, Translator
Translator (band)
Translator is a San Francisco rock band that had success during the 1980s. They created a sound that spanned updated British Merseybeat and stripped-down punk-like rock to psychedelia. Inspired by the Beatles and 1960s California folk-rock bands such as The Byrds, their guitar-based music was...
and Wire Train
Wire Train
Wire Train was a United States based group who produced six albums in the 1980s and early 1990s. The band was originally formed as the Renegades in April 1983 in San Francisco...
among others. When he lived in San Francisco, he hosted a long-running Sunday night program on KUSF
KUSF
KUSF was a non-commercial radio station licensed to San Francisco, California and owned by the University of San Francisco. From 1963 until 2011, the station broadcast at 90.3 FM MHz....
. He joined Sire Records
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
in 1987 and was president of Reprise
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
/Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
between 1989 and 2001. During his tenure he attracted artists such as Lou Reed
Lou Reed
Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
, with whom he had worked while at Sire, to the upscale label. After the Time Warner
Time Warner
Time Warner is one of the world's largest media companies, headquartered in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Formerly two separate companies, Warner Communications, Inc...
merger with AOL
AOL
AOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
, Klein accepted a buyout. As it happened, the day he retired was the day that the Reprise band Wilco
Wilco
Wilco is an American alternative rock band based in Chicago, Illinois. The band was formed in 1994 by the remaining members of alternative country group Uncle Tupelo following singer Jay Farrar's departure. Wilco's lineup has changed frequently, with only singer Jeff Tweedy and bassist John...
turned in its disputed album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is the fourth album by Chicago-based rock band Wilco. The album was completed in 2001, but Reprise Records, a Warner Music Group label, refused to release it. Wilco acquired the rights to the album when they left the label. In September 2001, Wilco streamed the entire album...
, which the Washington Post observed marked a "seismic shift" from the label's former "artist-friendly" reputation.
Klein received a Spirit of Liberty Award in 1999 from People for the American Way
People For the American Way
People For the American Way is a progressive advocacy group in the United States. Under U.S. tax code, People For the American Way is organized as a tax-exempt 501 non-profit organization.-Purpose:...
for his anti-censorship efforts. Klein was honored by the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
of Southern California "Bill of Rights Award" for his activism in the area of free speech.
Klein now lives in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where he writes the progressive political blog, DownWithTyranny! and regularly guest blogs on Crooks and Liars
Crooks and Liars
Crooks and Liars is an American liberal blog founded by John Amato. Along with John Amato, frequent contributors include Nicole Belle, Logan Murphy, Mike Finnigan, David Neiwert, SilentPatriot, , Susie Madrak, Nonny Mouse, Kenneth Quinnell, and Howie Klein. Journalist Tina Dupuy is the managing...
.com's Late Night Music Club feature. He is also an adjunct professor of music at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in Montreal where he sometimes lectures.