Howard Spencer Richmond was an American music publisher and music industry executive.
20 Facts About Howie Richmond
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Howie Richmond established The Richmond Organization, Inc, one of the largest independent music publishing organizations in the world, and had a hand in commercializing and promoting many pop, folk and rock songs since the 1940s.
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Howie Richmond attended the Loomis Chaffee School from 1931 to 1935, graduating in 1935, and thereafter, the University of Pennsylvania.
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Howie Richmond began working in the music business in 1935, soon establishing his own press office in New York City to publicize clients who included Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, Dinah Shore, the Andrews Sisters, and Woody Herman.
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Howie Richmond was not originally one of the partners in the company, but instead was to handle the publicity.
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Howie Richmond rapidly expanded and formed several other publishing imprints, affiliated with both ASCAP and BMI.
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In September 1950, Howie Richmond formed his third music publishing company, Warwick Music, Inc.
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In December 1950, Howie Richmond co-acquired the music publishing company, Folkways Music Publishers, Inc.
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Also in December 1950, Howie Richmond welcomed Al Brackman as general professional manager of Hollis Music and general manager of all BMI affiliates, the later officially stepped into the position on January 2,1951.
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In January 1951, Howie Richmond renamed Spencer Music, Inc to Ludlow Music, Inc In March 1951, Howie Richmond formed another imprint, Dartmouth Music, Inc mainly for the purpose of accommodating foreign compositions in the United States.
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Dartmouth was eventually linked to ASCAP in July 1951 and Howie Richmond placed Loring Buzzell as General Professional Manager of the company.
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Also in 1951, the Howie Richmond firms moved to an even bigger office, located at 666 Fifth Avenue, New York.
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In March 1951, Howie Richmond began working on establishing music publishing firms in the United Kingdom and Europe.
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In 1952, Howie Richmond formed his own record label, Mars Records, which was co-operated with musician Woody Herman.
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Howie Richmond named David Platz as Professional Manager of Essex Music, Ltd.
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One key to Howie Richmond's expansion was his emphasis on promoting records through radio stations and their disc jockeys, rather than on promoting songs through live performances.
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Howie Richmond worked closely with Woody Guthrie, providing him with a tape recorder to record his songs, many of which subsequently became commercially successful.
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Howie Richmond increasingly developed the company's interests outside of the United States, working with English and French songwriters such as Lionel Bart, Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse and Charles Aznavour.
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In 1969, together with Johnny Mercer and Abe Olman, Howie Richmond co-founded the National Academy of Popular Music and the Songwriters' Hall of Fame to honor songwriters for their contributions to popular music.
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Howie Richmond died at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, on May 20,2012.