Lenny Waronker(born October 3, 1941)[1]is an American record producer and music industry executive. As the president ofWarner Bros. Records,and later, as the co-founder and co-chair ofDreamWorks Records,Waronker was noted for his commitment to artists and his belief that "music, not money, was still number one."[2][3]
Lenny Waronker | |
|---|---|
| Born | Leonard Waronker October 3, 1941 Los Angeles,California,United States |
| Alma mater | University of Southern California |
| Occupation(s) | Music industry executive Producer |
| Board member of | USC Thornton School of Music |
| Children | Joey Waronker Anna Waronker Katie Waronker Lily Waronker Grace Waronker |
| Parent(s) | Simon Waronker Jeanette Waronker |
Early life and education
editWaronker was born in 1941 in Los Angeles, California[1]and grew up inPacific Palisades, California.His father,Simon Waronker,a classical violinist, performed with the20th Century FoxOrchestra from 1936 through 1939, and served as the orchestra's contractor at the studio from 1939 to 1955. When Waronker was 13, his father founded Liberty Records (he was the inspiration for one of the Chipmunks being named "Simon" ). With a roster that includedJulie London,Johnny Burnette,Eddie Cochran,The Chipmunks,Bobby Vee,Jan and Dean,Johnny Duffy,the Venturesandthe Fleetwoods,Liberty became one of the most successful independent labels of the post-World War II period.[4][5]Liberty's first release was an orchestral composition entitled "The Girl Upstairs" byLionel Newman.Newman's nephewRandy Newmanand Waronker – raised in the same neighborhood – were close friends.[6]They frequently visited the Liberty Records office, where they would watch recording sessions and study studio personnel. Waronker had little interest in becoming a musician, and gravitated instead towards production. "I remember going to Randy's house and saying 'why don't we figure out the arrangement for some standard?' And it was just amazing: He'd take any odd standard song and he'd sit down and mess with it and come up with a pop arrangement," he said in a 1994 interview withBillboard.[7]
Career
editLiberty Records, Metric
editAt his father's urging, Waronker – by then educated in songwriting, the music industry, and publishing – attendedUSC,where he studied music and business. As he had in high school, Waronker worked in theA&Rdepartment at Liberty during summer breaks. Notably, in addition to serving as agofer,Waronker worked with staff producerSnuff Garrett.Garrett, who was legendary for his "shrewd ability to identify a good song and know what singer could do it justice"[8]heavily influenced Waronker as he learned about production.
Waronker was additionally exposed to songwriters includingBurt Bacharach,Mort Shuman,Carole King,Gerry Goffin,Barry Mann,Cynthia Weil,andDoc Pomus.[7]
After his college graduation in 1961, Waronker was employed by Liberty full-time, working in the label's promotion department. A year later, he transferred to Liberty's publishing arm, Metric Music, where he worked for Mike Gould and, briefly, as an assistant toTommy LiPuma.At Metric, Waronker produced song demos; out of a fear that the producers would "mess up the song or the arrangement", Waronker learned how to make the demos sound like fully produced records with limited funds, and how to take advantage of "moments within a song".[9]
At Metric, Waronker pitched songs toDick Glasserat Warner Bros. andJimmy Bowenat Reprise. Impressed by his song demos, Bowen and Glasser recommended Waronker to Reprise label president Mo Ostin. Ostin subsequently hired him as a junior A&R representative for Reprise and for Warner Bros., which was then run by Joe Smith. Charged with developing artists who were originally on the roster of Autumn Records, a defunct label Reprise had acquired, Waronker produced theMojo Men's"Sit Down, I Think I Love You,"hiring Newman on piano andVan Dyke Parksas an arranger. He also producedHarpers Bizarre's"The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy),"which he hiredLeon Russellto arrange. Both songs were hits.[7]
Warner/Reprise, relationship with Mo Ostin, head of A&R
editAt the time, Warner/Reprise was characterized by a roster which includedDean Martin,Frank Sinatra,Petula Clark,Peter, Paul & Mary,andSonny and Cher.[10]The perception of the label shifted as Ostin and Smith signed artists includingJimi Hendrix,The Kinks,theGrateful Dead,andVan Morrison,among many others, and Waronker signed and/or produced artists including Newman, theBeau Brummels,James Taylor,Arlo Guthrie,Van Dyke Parks,Ry Cooder,Gordon Lightfoot,andMaria Muldaur.
In 1970 Ostin promoted Waronker to head of A&R. Waronker assembled an A&R staff composed of acclaimed producers and artists including Tommy LiPuma,Ted Templeman,Russ Titelman,Steve Barri,Gary Katz,Michael OmartianandJohn Cale,[3]and by the early 1980s, Ostin, Smith and Waronker had transformed Warner/Reprise into a label known as a haven for artists.[11]Rickie Lee Jones,who Waronker signed on the strength of a four-song demo, was an example of the success of the Warner Bros. artist-centric philosophy; her debut album, which Waronker co-produced with Titelman, went multi-platinum, and was considered by many to be one of the best debut albums of all time. Although the singles charts at the time was dominated by disco and arena rock anthems, "Chuck E.'s In Love"was a Top 10 hit. Jones won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1979 and Waronker was nominated for a Grammy in theRecord of the Yearcategory for his work as the record's producer.[12](He was nominated in the same category in 1975 for Maria Muldaur's "Midnight at the Oasis.")
President of Warner/Reprise, REM, Prince, resignation from Warner
editIn 1982, Waronker determined that his A&R-focused role was limiting and "becoming tiresome." He went to Ostin, seeking to become more active as an executive at the label. Waronker was subsequently appointed president. Although he remained significantly involved in signing artists, and produced tracks includingRod Stewart's"Broken Arrow"andEric Clapton's"Forever Man," he reduced the amount of time he spent in the studio, and instead worked closely with Ostin to run Warner/Reprise.[3][11]
With an emphasis on the quality of the records they released, under the joint leadership of Ostin and Waronker, Warner/Reprise entered a period of substantial commercial success. Although many of the label's artists failed to deliver records in 1983, in 1984, with multi-platinum records fromMadonna,John Fogerty,andPrince,among others, the label posted a 51% increase in revenue.[13]Warner/Reprise continued to thrive throughout the 1980s, with releases fromR.E.M.andPrince,both of whom Waronker signed,Eric Clapton,Red Hot Chili Peppers,Paul Simon,Madonna,Talking Heads,Van Halen,Neil Young,andDire Straits,among others. Through meticulous A&R, Warner/Reprise continued to be recognized for the quality of their roster, and with aggressive marketing, the company remained a dominant force in the market during Waronker's tenure.[7][14]
In 1992, following the death of Time Warner ChairmanSteve Ross,the Chairman of Warner Music Group, Robert J. Morgado, reorganized the corporate management structure. Under Ross, the Warner Music Groups were autonomous; Morgado, described as "a bean counter with little knowledge of music," required that the label heads report to him. Ostin declined to renew his contract as Chairman of Warner/Reprise, and resigned his position in August 1994.[15][16]Waronker rejected Morgado's offer to succeed Ostin as the chairman of Warner Bros./Reprise. "The way things are right now, it just doesn't feel right," he said.[17][18]
DreamWorks, return to Warner Records
editIn the months following their departure, Ostin and Waronker were pursued by more than a dozen entertainment companies, includingDisney,Viacom,Fox,PolyGramand Time Warner. In October it was announced that they would co-chair DreamWorks Records, the newly created music arm ofSteven Spielberg,David Geffen,andJeffrey Katzenberg'sDreamWorks.[19]Michael Ostin, Mo's son, was appointed president of the label.
Although he served in a leadership role at DreamWorks, Waronker continued to work closely with artists includingRufus Wainwright,the first artist he signed to DreamWorks,the Eels,Elliott Smith,and Newman, who he brought to the label in 1998. With artists such asNelly Furtado,Morphine,andPropellerheads,DreamWorks embraced the same artist-first principles that Warner Bros. had become known for, and by 2003, despite the vast changes in the landscape of the music industry, DreamWorks had flourished, with 59 gold, platinum and multiplatinum sales certifications and 26 Grammy award-winning releases. The label was purchased byUniversal Music Groupfor $100 million, and was subsequently folded intoGeffen Records.[11][20][21]Waronker left DreamWorks several years later.
In 2010, at the invitation of then-Chairman Tom Whalley, Waronker returned to Warner Bros. as a consultant, and works in partnership with the company's A&R staff on selected projects which have included records byGary Clark Jr.,Kimbra,andJenny Lewis.[22]
Personal life
editWaronker lives in Los Angeles. He was married toShindig!starDonna Loren,with whom he had three children, including songwriter andThat Dogfounder,Anna Waronker,and drummer,Joey,as well as a second daughter, Katie. His second marriage to jewelry designer, Cathleen Waronker, with whom he had two children, Lily and Grace, ended in divorce. He has five grandchildren.[23][24]
Waronker serves on the board of directors of theUSC Thornton School of Music.[25]
Selected discography
edit| Year | Album | Artist | Credit | Notable Tracks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Dark Matter | Randy Newman | Producer | |
| 2014 | Live | Gary Clark Jr. | A&R | |
| The Golden Echo | Kimbra | A&R | ||
| The Voyager | Jenny Lewis | A&R | ||
| 2012 | Black and Blu | Gary Clark Jr. | A&R | |
| 3 Pears | Dwight Yoakam | Executive Producer | ||
| 2011 | Vows | Kimbra | A&R | |
| 2010 | We Walk This Road | Robert Randolph and the Family Band | A&R and Co-producer | |
| 2008 | Harps and Angels | Randy Newman | Producer | |
| 2004 | Want Two | Rufus Wainwright | A&R | |
| 2003 | Want One | Rufus Wainwright | A&R, Executive Producer | |
| Shootenanny! | The Eels | Executive A&R | ||
| 2001 | Poses | Rufus Wainwright | Executive Producer | |
| Souljacker | The Eels | Executive A&R | ||
| 2000 | Daisies of the Galaxy | The Eels | Executive A&R | |
| Figure 8 | Elliott Smith | Executive A&R | ||
| 1998 | Electro-Shock Blues | The Eels | Executive A&R | |
| Rufus Wainwright | Rufus Wainwright | Executive Producer | ||
| XO | Elliott Smith | Executive A&R | ||
| 1996 | Beautiful Freak | The Eels | Executive A&R | |
| 1992 | Little Village | Little Village | Executive Producer | |
| 1991 | "Broken Arrow" (single) | Rod Stewart | Producer | "Broken Arrow" |
| 1988 | Brian Wilson | Brian Wilson | Executive A&R | |
| 1985 | Behind the Sun | Eric Clapton | Executive Producer | "Forever Man" |
| 1983 | Hearts and Bones | Paul Simon | Producer | |
| Trouble in Paradise | Randy Newman | Producer | "I Love L.A." | |
| 1982 | If That's What It Takes | Michael McDonald | Producer | "I Keep Forgetting" |
| Shadows | Gordon Lightfoot | Executive Producer | "Shadows" | |
| 1981 | Pirates | Rickie Lee Jones | Producer | |
| Ragtime (Music from the Motion Picture) | Randy Newman | Producer | ||
| 1980 | Dream Street Rose | Gordon Lightfoot | Executive Producer | |
| 1979 | Rickie Lee Jones | Rickie Lee Jones | Producer | "Chuck E.'s In Love" |
| Born Again | Randy Newman | Producer | ||
| 1978 | Endless Wire | Gordon Lightfoot | Producer | "Endless Wire", "The Circle Is Small" |
| 1977 | Little Criminals | Randy Newman | Producer | "Short People" |
| 1976 | Amigo | Arlo Guthrie | Producer | |
| Sweet Harmony | Maria Muldaur | Producer | ||
| In the Pocket | James Taylor | Producer | "Shower the People" | |
| Summertime Dream | Gordon Lightfoot | Producer | "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald","Summertime Dream " | |
| 1975 | Gorilla | James Taylor | Producer | "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" "Mexico" |
| Gord's Gold | Gordon Lightfoot | Producer | "Sundown", "Early Morning Rain" | |
| The Beau Brummels | The Beau Brummels | Audio production | ||
| Cold on the Shoulder | Gordon Lightfoot | Producer | "Now and Then", Bend in the Water " | |
| 1974 | Maria Muldaur | Maria Muldaur | Producer | "I'm A Woman" "Midnight at the Oasis" |
| Paradise and Lunch | Ry Cooder | Producer | ||
| Arlo Guthrie | Arlo Guthrie | Producer | ||
| Sundown | Gordon Lightfoot | Producer | "Sundown" "Carefree Highway" | |
| Good Old Boys | Randy Newman | Producer | ||
| 1973 | The Last of the Brooklyn Cowboys | Arlo Guthrie | Producer | |
| 1972 | Sailin’ Shoes | Little Feat | Executive A&R | |
| Sail Away | Randy Newman | Producer | ||
| Boomer Story | Ry Cooder | Producer | ||
| Don Quixote | Gordon Lightfoot | Producer | "Beautiful", "Alberta Bound" | |
| Hobo's Lullaby | Arlo Guthrie | Producer | "City of New Orleans" | |
| Old Dan's Records | Gordon Lightfoot | Producer | "Hi'way Songs", "Old Dan's Records" | |
| 1971 | The Doobie Brothers | The Doobie Brothers | Producer | |
| Into the Purple Valley | Ry Cooder | Producer | ||
| Randy Newman Live | Randy Newman | Producer | ||
| 1970 | 12 Songs | Randy Newman | Producer | |
| Sit Down Young Stranger | Gordon Lightfoot | Producer | "If You Could Read My Mind""Minstrel of the Dawn " | |
| Washington County | Arlo Guthrie | Producer | ||
| Ry Cooder | Ry Cooder | Producer | ||
| 1969 | Harpers Bizarre 4 | Harpers Bizarre | Producer | "Witchi Tai To" |
| Running Down the Road | Arlo Guthrie | Producer | ||
| 1968 | Bradley's Barn | The Beau Brummels | Producer | |
| Randy Newman | Randy Newman | Producer | ||
| Roots | The Everly Brothers | Producer | ||
| Secret Life of Harpers Bizarre | Harpers Bizarre | Producer | ||
| Song Cycle | Van Dyke Parks | Producer | ||
| 1967 | Anything Goes | Harpers Bizarre | Producer | "Anything Goes" |
| Feelin' Groovy | Harpers Bizarre | Producer | "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)" "Come to the Sunshine" | |
| Triangle | The Beau Brummels | Producer | ||
| "Sit Down, I Think I Love You"(single) | The Mojo Men | Producer | "Sit Down, I Think I Love You" |
References
edit- ^ab"Lenny Waronker Biography, Songs, & Albums".AllMusic.RetrievedOctober 17,2021.
- ^Selvin, Joel (June 4, 1995)."A Record Executive's Pride and Joy / Warner Bros. re-releases Lenny Waronker's early masterpieces".San Francisco Chronicle.RetrievedNovember 11,2014.
- ^abcScoppa, Bud (July 11, 1989)."From Studio to the Board Room: Lenny Waronker's low-key, laissez faire style pays off at Warner Bros".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedNovember 12,2014.
- ^"THE MEN BEHIND THREE LABELS".The New York Times.November 28, 1982.RetrievedNovember 13,2014.
- ^McLellan, Dennis (June 9, 2005)."Simon Waronker, 90; Founded Liberty Records Label in 1950s".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedNovember 11,2014.
- ^Chilton, Martin (December 2013)."Political Science (1972) – Randy Newman: 20 essential songs".The Daily Telegraph.RetrievedNovember 12,2014.
- ^abcdWhite, Timothy (November 12, 1994)."Lenny Waronker and Mo Ostin: How 2 Warner Bros. Execs Taught the Bunny to Rock".Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 107.
- ^Garcia, Gilbert (September 3, 1998)."Happy Trails".Phoenix New Times.RetrievedNovember 20,2014.
- ^"Background on Lenny Waronker".Artisthousemusic.org.Artist House Music. September 2006. Archived fromthe originalon December 11, 2014.RetrievedNovember 12,2014.
- ^Cornyn, Stan."STAY TUNED BY STAN CORNYN: LENNY'S CORPS".Rhino.com.Stay Tuned.RetrievedNovember 12,2014.
- ^abcWillonsky, Robert (December 10, 1998)."The music man".Dallas Observer.RetrievedNovember 13,2014.
- ^Morse, Tim."Classic Tracks: Rickie Lee Jones'" Chuck E.'s In Love "".Mix Magazine.RetrievedNovember 14,2014.
- ^Knoedelseder Jr., William K. (February 14, 1985)."Turnaround After 2 Years of Setbacks: Warner Bros. Records Plays a Happier Tune".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedNovember 15,2014.
- ^Knodelseder Jr., William K. (March 20, 1989)."MUSIC TO WARNER'S EARS: Profit from Records Unit, the Industry Leader, Far Outstrips High-Profile Movie Division".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedNovember 15,2014.
- ^Farr, Jory (July 23, 2001).Moguls and Madmen.New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. p. 18.ISBN0743228936.
- ^Phillips, Chuck (August 16, 1994)."COMPANY TOWN: At Warner Bros. Records, Mo Ostin Loyal to the End".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedNovember 15,2014.
- ^Hofmeister, Sally (October 25, 1994)."THE MEDIA BUSINESS; Turmoil Grows Worse At Time Warner Music".The New York Times.RetrievedNovember 15,2014.
- ^Phillips, Chuck (October 25, 1994)."Company Town: Waronker Turns Down Offer of Top Job When Ostin Leaves Warner Records in '95".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedNovember 18,2014.
- ^Phillips, Chuck (October 5, 1995)."Together Again: DreamWorks Lures an Industry Titan to Run Its Pop Music Division".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedNovember 17,2014.
- ^"UMG To Acquire DreamWorks Records".Billboard. October 31, 2003.RetrievedNovember 18,2014.
- ^"DREAMWORKS AND UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP REACH AGREEMENT FOR UMG TO ACQUIRE DREAMWORKS RECORDS".Universalmusic.com.UMG Corporate (Press release). November 11, 2003.RetrievedNovember 18,2014.
- ^Roberts, Randall (April 30, 2011)."Kin tight act".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedNovember 18,2014.
- ^"Classic Rock Almanac October 3, 2014".Wncx.cbslocal.com.CBS. October 3, 2014.RetrievedNovember 18,2014.
- ^Davidow, Audrey (Spring 2009)."Mini Spree".Modern Luxury.RetrievedNovember 18,2014.
- ^"Leonard Waronker".Music.usc.edu.USC Thornton School of Music.RetrievedNovember 18,2014.