living the business

424 Pages·2017·5.47 MB·English

Living the Business
By Mike Curb
With Don Cusic
Copyright © 2017 by Curb Recording Group, Inc. Original
photography copyright © 2017 by Curb Recording Group, Inc.
Text copyright © 2017 by Curb Recording Group, Inc.
ISBN 978-0-9990395-1-9
All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any
electronic or mechanical means, including retrieval systems, without
permission in writing from the copyright holder, except in brief
quotations or approved images used in a review.
Brackish Publishing
P.O. Box 120751
Nashville, TN 37212
Production Coordinator
Jim Sharp
Sharp Management
Cover and Interior Layout Design
www.PricelessDigitalMedia.com
Contents
Introduction .......................................................................................................... 9
LIVING THE BUSINESS:
50 Years as an Entrepreneur in the Music Business by Mike Curb ................. 13
CHAPTER 1: Te Early Years ........................................................................... 17
CHAPTER 2: Early Music Infuences .............................................................. 25
CHAPTER 3: First Steps in the Music Industry ............................................. 33
Te Mike Curb Congregation, Crickets, Buddies, Bobby Darin, Hondells
(composing the commercial You Meet Te Nicest People On A Honda)
CHAPTER 4: Soundtracks ................................................................................ 49
Composing Movies Temes: SkaterDater, Wild Angels (“Blues’ Teme”)
Composing TV Temes: Cattanooga Cats and Hot Wheels
Composing Commercials: On Te Move With Chevrolet
CHAPTER 5: Eddie Ray and My First Record Label ..................................... 57
Arrows (featuring Davie Allan), Stone Poneys (featuring Linda Ronstadt),
Electric Flag (featuring Mike Bloomfeld and Buddy Miles)
CHAPTER 6: Building Amazing Future Relationships ................................. 63
Casey Kasem
Composing the “American Bandstand Teme”
Dick Clark
Co-mastering Pink Floyd
Producing Savage Seven Soundtrack (Cream, Eric Clapton and Iron Butterfy)
Building Early Relationships with Future Curb Recording Artists
Buck Owens, Merle Haggard and Sonny James
CHAPTER 7: On TV with Glen Campbell ..................................................... 79
CHAPTER 8: MGM/Curb and Te Osmonds ................................................ 81
Producing Donny and Marie, Writing and Producing Roy Orbison
Signing Eric Burdon and War, Tompall and Te Glaser Brothers,
Chicago Transit Authority
Strawberry Statement Soundtrack (Crosby Stills, Nash & Young)
Te Relationship with Bob Lifon
Te Relationship with Karen Carpenter
CHAPTER 9: Te MGM/Curb Merger ........................................................... 97
Composing “Burning Bridges” for the Clint Eastwood Movie Kelly’s Heroes
Composing the Music for Frank Sinatra’s Dirty Dingus Magee
Composing the Music for Liza Minelli’s Emmy Award Winning Liza
With A Z (“It Was A Good Time”)
Producing Steve & Eydie, Andy Williams, Sammy Davis Jr. (“Candy Man”)
and “It’s A Small World” for Disney with Te Mike Curb Congregation
CHAPTER 10: Te MGM/Verve Years .......................................................... 105
Eric Burdon and War, Sylvers, Tony Bennett, Sammy Davis Jr., Shaf,
Gloria Gaynor, Solomon Burke, Neil Sedaka, Richie Havens, Lou Rawls,
Johnny Bristol and Te Five Man Electrical Band
CHAPTER 11: Early Hits In Country ............................................................ 111
Composing and Producing Hank Williams Jr.’s First #1 Record,
“All For Te Love Of Sunshine”
Producing Eddy Arnold, Signing Mel Tillis, Kenny Rogers,
Billy Walker, Don Gibson and Ray Stevens
CHAPTER 12: Producing Recordings ........................................................... 121
Billboard Producer of the Year
CHAPTER 13: Analyzing the Music Business .............................................. 129
Te Importance of the Infuence of R&B and Rock & Roll
Distributing Historic Sun Records
CHAPTER 14: Te Music Business Lifestyle ................................................ 135
CHAPTER 15: Warner Curb ........................................................................... 139
Five Consecutive #1 Pop Hits, Te Four Seasons, Bellamy Brothers,
Shaun Cassidy, Debby Boone, Exile, Foreigner, T.G. Sheppard and
Berry Gordy Jr.
CHAPTER 16: Marriage to Linda Dunphy Curb ......................................... 145
CHAPTER 17: Government ............................................................................ 149
Elected Lt. Governor of California and President of Te Senate
Elected National Chairman of all Lieutenant Governors
CHAPTER 18: Acting Governor of California ............................................. 159
At the time California’s economy was equivalent in size to the
seventh largest country in the world.
Co-Chairman of the Reagan for President Campaign and Chairman
of the National Convention Program
President Reagan and Motorsports
Richard Petty’s Historic 200th Victory at Daytona
Winning Dale Earnhardt’s First Championship
Winning Two Historic Indianapolis 500 Races
CHAPTER 19: Going to Washington with President Ronald Reagan ...... 169
Curb Serving as Chairman of the Presidential Trust, Chairman
of the NRFC, Trade Negotiations Board and National USO Board
CHAPTER 20: Back in the Music Business and Te Judds ........................ 181
Dick Whitehouse: 35 Incredible Years
CHAPTER 21: Hits and Soundtracks ............................................................ 197
Righteous Brothers, Bill Medley, Dirty Dancing, Coyote Ugly,
Real Life and Maureen McGovern
CHAPTER 22: Contemporary Country ........................................................ 209
Lyle Lovett, Sawyer Brown, Hal Ketchum, Wynonna, Wayne Newton,
Junior Brown, Gene Watson, Beat Farmers, Ronnie McDowell,
Jefrey Steele and Shane McAnally
CHAPTER 23: Contemporary Christian Music ........................................... 219
Larry Norman, Second Chapter of Acts, DeGarmo and Key, Debby Boone,
Selah, Michael English, Jonathan Pierce, Patty Cabrera, Fernando Ortega,
Whiteheart, Plumb, MercyMe, OBB and Natalie Grant, Acquisition of Word
Records (for KING & COUNTRY, Francesca Battistelli and Big Daddy Weave)
CHAPTER 24: From Los Angeles to Nashville and Tim McGraw ............ 227
CHAPTER 25: LeAnn Rimes .......................................................................... 237
CHAPTER 26: Jo Dee Messina ....................................................................... 253
CHAPTER 27: Inside a Record Company .................................................... 261
CHAPTER 28: Te Future ............................................................................... 275
CHAPTER 29: Te Business ........................................................................... 289
CHAPTER 30: Motivation .............................................................................. 299
CHAPTER 31: Te Accident ........................................................................... 311
CHAPTER 32: Word Records ......................................................................... 321
CHAPTER 33: Curb Records – Billboard Christian Imprint Of Te Year ......327
“God Bless Te U.S.A.,” “Tree Wooden Crosses” and
“I Can Only Imagine”
CHAPTER 34: Problems in the Music Business .......................................... 333
CHAPTER 35: Curb in the 21st Century ...................................................... 341
Rodney Atkins, Steve Holy, Hank Williams Jr.,
Tim McGraw, LeAnn Rimes, Wynonna, Jerrod Niemann,
Mo Pitney, Clay Walker, Kimberley Locke, OBB, Natalie Grant,
Lee Brice, Dylan Scott and for KING & COUNTRY
CHAPTER 36: Curb Records .......................................................................... 353
First Independent Company to Become Billboard Label Of Te Year
Te Importance of Five-Year Plans
CHAPTER 37: Listening .................................................................................. 363
CHAPTER 38: Challenges ............................................................................... 367
CHAPTER 39: Circles ...................................................................................... 375
CHAPTER 40: Te Mike Curb Family Foundation ..................................... 379
***Five Honorary Doctorates
***National Business Hall of Fame and Musicians Hall of Fame
***Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Nashville Music City Walk of Fame
QUOTES ............................................................................................................ 403
To see a gallery of photos related to this book, please visit:
Family Photographs: http://www.mikecurb.com/book/LTB/Family/
Music Business Photographs: http://www.mikecurb.com/book/LTB/MusicBusiness/
Motorsports Photographs: http://www.mikecurb.com/book/LTB/Motorsports/
Public Service Photographs: http://www.mikecurb.com/book/LTB/PublicService/
Foundation Photographs: http://www.mikecurb.com/book/LTB/Foundation/
Introduction
Several years ago, Don Cusic, who holds the History Professorship at
the Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business, began research
and interviews for a book that would present the story of Curb Records
to the students attending Curb Colleges at universities across the country.
During Curb Records’ 50th Anniversary, we were fortunate to have
Grandin Hood, Publishers, led by Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer
Robin Hood undertake publication of our story. His creative team,
including Randy Powers, Jay Sheridan, and the designers at Robertson
Design, brought creative energy and focus to Don’s vision; resulting in
our 50th anniversary book, which is available online at mikecurb.com.
As the oldest record company that is still operated by its original
owner, Curb Records has created numerous jobs, started many artistic
careers, and most important of all, developed the Curb colleges and
supported over 100 charities. Our success has been a result of the
incredible positive strengths of our artists, our employees, the vendors,
our friends at radio, flm and television and the creative synergies that
come from songwriters, producers, engineers and everyone involved
in the making of music.
It’s almost impossible to explain the number of people contributing
to the process of creating a major hit record, but nevertheless we’ve
tried to individually thank by name those who made a diference for
each record. We have chosen to include important moments – some
celebrated and others behind the scenes – responsible for our success,
hoping to encourage those who may consider a career in the music and
entertainment business. We try to show examples of all segments of
the music industry, whether it’s writing the song, fnding the song and
matching it to the right artist, engineering the song in the recording studio,
arranging, producing, the marketing, the advertising, the creative design,
the promotion, or numerous other aspects of the industry. Tis book
also illustrates the importance of being involved in all genres of music;
for example, in virtually every one of our 50 years we have embraced
rock music, country music, pop music, R&B music, international music,
gospel music, television and motion picture soundtrack music and co-
ventures with over 100 other record companies.
To help encourage young people to become involved in some form
of public service, I have included my experience in public ofce as
Acting Governor and Lt. Governor of California and my experiences as
National Co-Chairman of Ronald Reagan’s Presidential Campaign and
Chairman of the Program Committee for the National Convention,
and in Washington chairing the RNFC and the Presidential Trust.
We live in the greatest country in the world where so many of our
great patriots have made major sacrifces, and we owe it to them to
do everything we can to make sure that their sacrifces were not in
vain. I hope this book will inspire young people to start or be part of
a business and a foundation that begins with little or no money and
through hard work, teamwork, and passion, can build something that
makes a positive impact on many peoples’ lives.
My life really came full circle during the year of the Centennial
Celebration of my mentor and friend, Ronald Reagan; Curb Records
achieved its 300th Number 1 hit; our Curb-Agajanian Racing Team
experienced its 500th NASCAR start; and we were a part of the winning
10 LIVING THE BUSINESS
team for the historic Centennial Indianapolis 500 with driver Dan
Wheldon. In 2016 we were fortunate to win the Indianapolis 500 again
with driver Alexander Rossi. Amazingly, we were able to bring together
motorsports and President Reagan at the historic Daytona Speedway in
1984 while he was President. I was able to arrange, along with Bill France
Jr., for Ronald Reagan to become the frst sitting President to attend a
major motorsports event. Te car I owned, driven by Richard Petty,
won the event and it was his record-setting 200th victory. It became a
major event because President Reagan was there to congratulate him on
his victory. We were also involved with Dale Earnhardt when he won
his frst championship and I believe I am the only car owner to have
won races in all 10 of NASCAR’s domestic divisions. We’ve had over
500 victories in 40 diferent motorsports divisions, including IndyCar,
NASCAR, World of Outlaws, NHRA, USAC and other sanctioning
organizations.
Tis book also celebrates 40 years with my wife, Linda. Tanks
to Linda, we have two beautiful daughters. Megan, and her husband
Dr. Brian Cox, have given us four grandchildren, Catie, Brandon,
and twins, Connor and Ethan. Our other daughter Courtney and her
husband, Taylor Childress, both playing important roles with our music
companies and our charitable activities, have given us two wonderful
grandchildren, Carter Curb Childress and Caroline Curb Childress.
Unfortunately, during the last couple of years, Linda and I have
both lost our mothers, and it’s the 25th anniversary of the loss of my
father. We had wonderful parents, and we all stand on the shoulders
of our ancestors. Tey showed us the importance of hard work,
community participation, a positive attitude, and realizing that we
INTRODUCTION 11