Hy Weiss

Hyman Y. "Hy" Weiss (February 12, 1923 – March 20, 2007) was an American record producer of pop and rhythm and blues music in the 1950s and 1960s, and the founder of Old Town Records.

Biography Born to a Jewish family in Cuca, Argeș County, Romania, he was an immigrant to the United States as a baby in 1924 and was brought up in the Bronx, New York. There, he established a friendship with Morris Levy, who would also become active in the music business. He served in the US Army Air Force in World War II, before working briefly as a bouncer and as a furrier. and set up Parody Records with his brother Sam in 1949. He was primarily a producer of doo wop groups, as well as blues music. Subsequently, Weiss worked for Stax Records. He had a co-writer credit for the song "Foggy Notion" by the Velvet Underground, along with all the members of the band. Weiss revived Old Town as a vehicle for Arthur Prysock in 1973, having repossessed his previous master tapes and kept the label going until about 1978.

Personal life In 1954, he married Rosalyn Weiss; she died in 1996. He was a resident of Rockleigh, New Jersey. He died in Englewood, New Jersey, on March 20, 2007, at the age of 84. He was survived by two daughters, Maureen Weiss Spergel and Pam Weiss Katz; and a son, Barry Weiss, the Chairman and CEO of Island Def Jam/Universal Motown Republic.

Notable artists

Billy Bland The Capris The Co-eds The Earls The Fiestas Larry Finnegan Bob Gaddy The 5 Crowns The Gypsies The Harptones Ella Johnson Ruth McFadden Arthur Prysock Robert & Johnny The Solitaires