Morris Levy
Encyclopedia
Morris Levy was an American music industry executive, best known as the founder and owner of Roulette Records
. He was described by Billboard
magazine as "one of the record industry's most controversial and flamboyant players," and by Allmusic as "a notorious crook who swindled artists out of their owed royalties".
, and grew up largely on the streets of New York City
after his father and older brother died when he was a child. He quit school at the age of 13 and ran away to Florida
, where he worked as a photographer in and around nightclub
s as well as having a spell in the US Navy. He then persuaded his nightclub bosses - speculated to be mobsters - to buy a club in New York, and proceeded to run it as the Cock Lounge. It became successful, attracting musicians such as Charlie Parker
and Dexter Gordon
, and allowed Levy to set up another club, Birdland
, in 1949.
When at Birdland, he was approached by a representative of ASCAP, seeking payment on behalf of songwriters for his being allowed to book live music. Levy then formed a publishing company, Patricia Music, to which he acquired the rights of songs performed in his clubs. In 1956, he founded Roulette Records with George Goldner
, initially to release rock and roll
music but also diversifying into jazz
. At one point he owned the rights to the phrase "rock and roll" itself, which had become widely used after its use by Levy's friend, Alan Freed
, and was also known to add his name as songwriter to the credits of many of the artists recorded on his label. In 1957, Variety
described him as the "Octopus" of the music industry, because of his reach and tenacity within the business.
In the mid-1970's Levy filed a much-publicised lawsuit against John Lennon
for appropriating a line from the Chuck Berry
song, "You Can't Catch Me
" (for which Levy owned the publishing rights) in The Beatles
' song "Come Together
." Lennon ultimately settled with Levy by agreeing to record three songs from Levy's publishing catalogue during the sessions for his 1975 LP Rock 'n' Roll
, co-produced with Phil Spector
. After complications, due to Spector, and attempts at a second agreement failed, Levy used demo recording from Lennon to produce and release "Roots". Levy successfully sued Lennon with an award of $6,795, but was countersued by Lennon, Capitol, EMI, and Apple for an award of $145,300.
Levy sold Roulette Records and his publishing rights in 1986 for a reported $55 million. The same year, he was convicted by a Federal jury in Camden, New Jersey
, as a conspirator in the extortion
of a music wholesaler, and was sentenced to a ten-year jail sentence. He died of liver cancer
at the age of 62 while awaiting an appeal.
character, Hesh Rabkin.
Roulette Records
Roulette Records is an American record label, which was founded in late 1956, by George Goldner, Joe Kolsky, Morris Levy and Phil Khals, with creative control given to producers and songwriters Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore. Levy was appointed as director...
. He was described by Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine as "one of the record industry's most controversial and flamboyant players," and by Allmusic as "a notorious crook who swindled artists out of their owed royalties".
Life and career
He was born in HarlemHarlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, and grew up largely on the streets of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
after his father and older brother died when he was a child. He quit school at the age of 13 and ran away to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, where he worked as a photographer in and around nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s as well as having a spell in the US Navy. He then persuaded his nightclub bosses - speculated to be mobsters - to buy a club in New York, and proceeded to run it as the Cock Lounge. It became successful, attracting musicians such as Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker
Charles Parker, Jr. , famously called Bird or Yardbird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer....
and Dexter Gordon
Dexter Gordon
Dexter Gordon was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and an Academy Award-nominated actor . He is regarded as one of the first and most important musicians to adapt the bebop musical language of people like Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Bud Powell to the tenor saxophone...
, and allowed Levy to set up another club, Birdland
Birdland (jazz club)
Birdland is a jazz club started in New York City on December 15, 1949. The original Birdland, which was located at 1678 Broadway, just north of West 52nd Street in Manhattan, was closed in 1965 due to increased rents, but it re-opened for one night in 1979...
, in 1949.
When at Birdland, he was approached by a representative of ASCAP, seeking payment on behalf of songwriters for his being allowed to book live music. Levy then formed a publishing company, Patricia Music, to which he acquired the rights of songs performed in his clubs. In 1956, he founded Roulette Records with George Goldner
George Goldner
George Goldner was an American record label owner and promoter. He worked, amongst others, with The Crows, The Flamingos, The Cleftones, The Shangri-Las, The Teenagers, The Chantels, Little Richard and Lou Christie. He had a son named Cary and a wife named Grace...
, initially to release rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
music but also diversifying into jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
. At one point he owned the rights to the phrase "rock and roll" itself, which had become widely used after its use by Levy's friend, Alan Freed
Alan Freed
Albert James "Alan" Freed , also known as Moondog, was an American disc-jockey. He became internationally known for promoting the mix of blues, country and rhythm and blues music on the radio in the United States and Europe under the name of rock and roll...
, and was also known to add his name as songwriter to the credits of many of the artists recorded on his label. In 1957, Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
described him as the "Octopus" of the music industry, because of his reach and tenacity within the business.
In the mid-1970's Levy filed a much-publicised lawsuit against John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
for appropriating a line from the Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
song, "You Can't Catch Me
You Can't Catch Me
"You Can't Catch Me" is a song written and performed by Chuck Berry, released as a single in 1956. The song's lyrics mention racing a souped-up "air-mobile" down the New Jersey Turnpike...
" (for which Levy owned the publishing rights) in The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' song "Come Together
Come Together
"Come Together" is a song by The Beatles written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The song is the opening track on The Beatles' September 1969 album Abbey Road....
." Lennon ultimately settled with Levy by agreeing to record three songs from Levy's publishing catalogue during the sessions for his 1975 LP Rock 'n' Roll
Rock 'n' Roll (John Lennon album)
Rock 'n' Roll is a 1975 album of late 1950s and early 1960s songs covered by John Lennon. Recording the album was problematic and spanned a year. Though critically derided, it reached #6 in both the United Kingdom and the United States.-History:...
, co-produced with Phil Spector
Phil Spector
Phillip Harvey "Phil" Spector is an American record producer and songwriter, later known for his conviction in the murder of actress Lana Clarkson....
. After complications, due to Spector, and attempts at a second agreement failed, Levy used demo recording from Lennon to produce and release "Roots". Levy successfully sued Lennon with an award of $6,795, but was countersued by Lennon, Capitol, EMI, and Apple for an award of $145,300.
Levy sold Roulette Records and his publishing rights in 1986 for a reported $55 million. The same year, he was convicted by a Federal jury in Camden, New Jersey
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
, as a conspirator in the extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
of a music wholesaler, and was sentenced to a ten-year jail sentence. He died of liver cancer
Liver cancer
Liver tumors or hepatic tumors are tumors or growths on or in the liver . Several distinct types of tumors can develop in the liver because the liver is made up of various cell types. These growths can be benign or malignant...
at the age of 62 while awaiting an appeal.
In popular culture
Levy is frequently cited as one of the possible inspirations for The SopranosThe Sopranos
The Sopranos is an American television drama series created by David Chase that revolves around the New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano and the difficulties he faces as he tries to balance the often conflicting requirements of his home life and the criminal organization he heads...
character, Hesh Rabkin.