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Herb Abramson

 


Herb Abramson | Copyright Control | tc1002

Herbert Charles Abramson was born in Brooklyn, New York City on November 16, 1916 and was an American record company executive, record producer, and a co-founder of Atlantic Records. He is one of the key influential record producers involved in post war rhythm and blues music. He was trained as a dentist.

Steeped in rhythm and blues music, he recorded many of the leading R&B artistes of the 1950s and 1960s, including Joe Turner and Billy Eckstein. The Atco label was set up to release his productions. In 1953 he was called up for military service, which he spent doing dentistry!, and Jerry Wexler was recruited to fill his shoes while he was away. He returned to Atlantic/Atco in 1955 and recorded The Coasters and others. In 1958 he left Atlantic to set up his own company, which recorded “Daddy Rolling Stone” by Derek Martin, released on UK Sue. His most successful production for his own company was “Hi-Heel Sneakers” by Tommy Tucker, released on Checker Records.

In 1998, he received the Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.

Herb Abramson died in Henderson, Nevada, on November 9, 1999.

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