Barney Ales

Baldassare "Barney" Ales (May 13, 1934 – April 17, 2020) was an American music industry executive best known for his work at Motown, where he served as a sales and promotion executive and later as president. He played an important role in promoting Motown's recordings to the mainstream American music market during the company's rise in the 1960s and 1970s.

Early life and career

Ales was born in Detroit, Michigan, on May 13, 1934, the son of Silvestro Ales, a barber who had emigrated from Sicily, and his wife Evelyn. He attended Thomas M. Cooley High School and subsequently worked on an assembly line at a Dodge automobile plant.

Motown

Ales met Berry Gordy in 1960, and Gordy recruited him to join Motown as national sales and promotion manager. Ales helped establish the company's national sales and promotion operation as Motown expanded beyond Detroit and sought a wider audience for its recordings.

Later career

When Gordy moved Motown's headquarters from Detroit to Los Angeles in 1972, Ales left the company and remained in Detroit. He subsequently established the record label Prodigal. The venture was unsuccessful, and Ales returned to Motown in 1975.

After returning to Motown, Ales became executive vice president and subsequently served as president of the company. He left Motown again in 1979.

After his second departure from Motown, Ales worked with a number of record companies and music-industry figures. His later associations included Elton John's Rocket Records, Bob Guccione's Penthouse label, Norman Granz's Pablo Records, and George Clinton's company AEM.

Death

Ales died on April 17, 2020, at the age of 85.