Ted Albert

Edward Frank Albert (1937 – 11 November 1990) was an Australian early pioneer independent record producer, and founder of Albert Productions (part of his great-grandfather's company Albert Music). In recognition of his contribution to the music industry, the Australasian Performing Right Association established the annual Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music.

Early life Edward Frank Albert was born in 1937 in Sydney, the second of three sons to parents Alexis Albert and his wife Elsie (née Lundgren). The family's music publishing empire, J. Albert & Son was founded by Edward's great-grandfather, Jacques Albert. Jacques Albert migrated to Australia from Switzerland in 1884 and established a clock, watch, and occasional violin repair business in King Street, Sydney.

Ted Albert and his brothers Tony and Robert were raised in the family home "Coolong" in the eastern Sydney suburb of Vaucluse.

Albert Productions Ted Albert joined the family music business, in the company which was then known as J. Albert & Son, in the mid to late 1950s, a time when rock and roll was emerging into the music mainstream in the United States, Australia, and Europe. The early 1960s heralded the arrival of independent record producers Phil Spector and Joe Meek and later Shel Talmy. As artists in their own right, they had complete control of the creative process and shaped the bands' recording sound.

Albert Productions was established as J. Albert & Son's A&R department in late 1964 with the sole intention of signing and recording Australian artists. Ted Albert was Albert Productions' first managing director. The company lacked any dedicated record facilities, but J. Albert & Son owned and operated Sydney commercial radio station 2UW, and made its studios and a theatre available to Albert Productions for recording and audition purposes. Later still, Alberts contracted EMI and its subsidiary Parlophone Records to handle record distribution. In late 1964 Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs was the first act to sign to the Alberts label.

The Easybeats Ted Albert was introduced to members of The Easybeats by mutual friend and band manager Mike Vaughn. Vaughn organised a private audition, and a few days later the band was signed to a recording contract. Albert produced the early Easybeats records and played on some of these early recordings. Alberts then signed the band to a recording contract with EMI's Parlophone label. In 1966, The Easybeats signed a five-year record distribution contract with United Artists Records to handle the band's international product distribution.

After arriving in London in that year, Albert hired EMI's Abbey Road Studios to record the band's next album, although he was replaced by freelance producer Shel Talmy to record their biggest hit "Friday on My Mind". The single reached No. 1 in Australia, No. 6 in the UK, and No. 16 in the United States.

Record entrepreneur In the 1970s, Albert fostered Australia's third wave of youth-oriented music. Early in 1972, Simon Napier-Bell, the English record producer, was scouting for new talent in Australia and produced a few records for Alberts, including 'Pasadena'. The song, which was recorded by singer John Paul Young, was written by former Easybeats Vanda and Young with lyrics by British film, stage, and television actor David Hemmings. The single reached No. 16 on the Australian singles charts in early 1972.

During the 1970s and the early 1980s Albert Studios became one of Sydney's pre-eminent recording studios for recording contemporary music for artists, including pop artist William Shakespeare through to The Angels, Rose Tattoo, Heroes, Cheetah, Choirboys and internationally renowned band AC/DC. In addition the studios were much in demand by rock bands such as Cold Chisel and Midnight Oil or by blues music acts such as Graham Lowndes and for the recording of commercial radio jingles.

Albert invested considerable sums of time and money in equipping Alberts with state-of-the-art recording technology, and the facility was gradually expanded to accommodate four studios. By one account he would buy the latest console or multi-rack (technology) on the spot whilst on overseas business trips.

Recognition In 1990, in recognition of his contribution to the local music industry, Albert was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual ARIA Awards.

Death and legacy Ted Albert died from a heart attack on 11 November 1990 aged 53, survived by his wife Antoinette (Popsy) Albert née Muir and two daughters.

In 1992 the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) established the annual Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Service to Australian Music.