Bozo the Clown creator Alan Livingston dies at 91

[Tab]

Source: Associated Press

LOS ANGELES – Alan W. Livingston, the music executive who created Bozo the Clown and signed the Beatles during his tenure as president of Capitol Records, has died. He was 91.

Livingston died Friday of age-related causes in his Beverly Hills home, said his stepdaughter, Jennifer Lerner.

Livingston began his multifaceted career in show business as a writer and producer of children's read-along record albums for Capitol Records. He came up with the Bozo the Clown character for the 1946 album "Bozo at the Circus," which became a hit and spawned a cottage industry of merchandise and the television series featuring the wing-haired clown.

When he moved into executive positions at Capitol Records in the early 1950s, Livingston signed Frank Sinatra, then at a low point in his career, and introduced him to arranger Nelson Riddle. Together, the pair produced "I've Got the World on a String" and "Young At Heart," which led to Sinatra's comeback.

Livingston left the record label in the late 1950s to work in television, where he produced the western series "Bonanza." He returned to Capitol Records as president in the 1960s, when he signed the Beach Boys and Steve Miller and the Band.

When Livingston heard the Beatles song "I Want to Hold Your Hand," he agreed to release the single and brought the Fab Four to the United States in 1964 to promote it. Capitol, which was partly owned by the Beatles' record company EMI in the United Kingdom, earlier had rejected the group's initial hit singles as unsuitable for the American market.

"He had great taste and judgment, as far as musical talent, and as an executive, he was always very mentoring, very supportive," said Neil Portnow, the president and CEO of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, who worked with Livingston in the 1970s.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090314/ap_en_mu/obit_livingston

---

At first I thought it was referring to Barbara Bush.

But that would be an insult to Bozo the Clown.

[bitchkitty]

1. I was on the Bozo show when I was 3-4 years old.

That old liar told me that if I wished hard enough, I could pluck a piece of candy from out of thin air.

I was devastated when I found out that Bozo had lied to me.

[Kat45]

2. Livingston was an interesting man, did quite a few things.

And I'd never heard of him until I saw this thread. Who'da thunk there'd be a connection between the Beatles and Sinatra and Bozo the Clown! :rofl:

[Kat45]

3. (singing) "Bozo, Bozo. Always laughs, never frowns

Bozo, Bozo, Bozo the Clown."

[burning rain]

4. And the Republicans' congressional leadership lives on.

A real legacy!

[BumRushDaShow]

5. R.I.P.

I remember having one of those Bozo punching bag toys as a wee one. Makes you want to put the picture of your favorite repuke over Bozo's face and have at it! :rofl:

[GinaMaria]

6. RIP and thank you for the childhood memories