Just received, belatedly I admit, news of the death of Gene Norman, founder of GNP Crescendo Records, in Los Angeles on November 2, 2015 at age 93.
The GNP in the company name stood for "Gene Norman Presents...", and was named for the Crescendo, a jazz nightclub he owned. The company began as a be-bop jazz label, recording concerts Norman promoted; by the 60's was also succeeding with garage-punk rock like The Seeds' "Pushin' Too Hard," then with the influence of Gene's son Neil (involved in the company since the 70's and continuing to run it), becoming the "go to" label for sci-fi movie soundtracks!
Norman and GNP won a Grammy for an album by zydeco accordionist Queen Ida, and at one time or another recorded artists ranging from Bing Crosby to Dick Dale to Orson Welles. Norman also served as a director of the RIAA, and was a member of the Independent Music Hall of Fame.
The GNP in the company name stood for "Gene Norman Presents...", and was named for the Crescendo, a jazz nightclub he owned. The company began as a be-bop jazz label, recording concerts Norman promoted; by the 60's was also succeeding with garage-punk rock like The Seeds' "Pushin' Too Hard," then with the influence of Gene's son Neil (involved in the company since the 70's and continuing to run it), becoming the "go to" label for sci-fi movie soundtracks!
Norman and GNP won a Grammy for an album by zydeco accordionist Queen Ida, and at one time or another recorded artists ranging from Bing Crosby to Dick Dale to Orson Welles. Norman also served as a director of the RIAA, and was a member of the Independent Music Hall of Fame.