Mimi Trepel

Miriam P. "Mimi" Trepel (May 7, 1908 – September 18, 2006) was an American radio broadcaster who became a pioneering record industry distribution manager, described by writer John Broven as "an unseen heroine of rock 'n' roll."

Biography She was born in Brooklyn, the daughter of Russian Jewish immigrants, and studied at the Feagin School of Dramatic Art. She worked as a drama coach before deciding to work in radio broadcasting. In 1944, she started working at WLIB, where she became involved in music programming and production, responsible for classical music programming and announcements, and broadcasting shows by Oscar Brand, Ella Fitzgerald, Ethel Waters and others. She represented the Decca and London companies around the world, and was one of the few women with positions of responsibility in the record industry at that time. However, by the late 1960s, independent record companies such as Atlantic increasingly sought to establish their own identities and imprints overseas, and her role diminished. She retired in 1975.