Jerry Kasenetz is an American
bubblegum pop
Bubblegum (also called bubblegum pop) is pop music in a catchy and upbeat style that is marketed for children and adolescents. The term also refers to a more specific rock and pop subgenre, originating in the United States in the late 1960s, th ...
producer who worked with
Jeffry Katz
Jeffry Katz (born May 20, 1943, Brooklyn, New York) is an American music producer, one of the first proponents of bubblegum pop.
Music career
He is one half of a hitmaking duo with Jerry Kasenetz, the two working together as the Super K Product ...
, the two working together as the
Super K Productions company,
[Clarke, Donald (ed.) (1998) ''The Penguin Encyclopedia of Popular Music'', Penguin Books, , p. 182] to manufacture and produce bands such as
Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus,
The Music Explosion
The Music Explosion was an American garage rock band from Mansfield, Ohio, discovered and signed by record producers Jerry Kasenetz and Jeffry Katz.
The quintet is best known for their number two hit record, hit, "Little Bit O' Soul". The single ...
,
1910 Fruitgum Company,
Crazy Elephant
Crazy Elephant was an American bubblegum pop band (music), band noted for their 1969 hit record, hit single (music), single, "Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'".
History
Crazy Elephant was a recording studio, studio concoction, the Marzano-Calvert Stud ...
, and
The Ohio Express.
[Romanowski, Patricia; George-Warren, Holly & Pareles, John (2001) ''The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll (third edition)'', Simon & Schuster Ltd, , p. 700][Hall, Claude (1967)]
Long Sessions Required for 'Serious' Pop
, ''Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
'', September 2, 1967, p. 1, 10, retrieved 2011-06-25
Music career
The two met at the University of Arizona in the early 1960s. One of their first projects in the music business was as concert promoters bringing the British band,
Dave Clark Five
The Dave Clark Five, also known as the DC5, were an English rock and roll band formed in 1958 in Tottenham, London. Drummer Dave Clark was the group's leader, producer and co-songwriter. In January 1964, they had their first UK top-ten single, ...
, to the University of Arizona. Leaving the University of Arizona before their senior year, they moved back to New York and opened a small office on
Broadway
Broadway may refer to:
Theatre
* Broadway Theatre (disambiguation)
* Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
** Broadway (Manhattan), the street
** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...
.
Kasenetz and Katz created the concept of bubblegum music.
Neil Bogart
Neil E. Bogart (born Neil Scott Bogatz, February 3, 1943 – May 8, 1982) was an American record executive. He was the founder of Casablanca Records, which later became Casablanca Record and Filmworks.
Life and career
Born Neil Scott Bogatz i ...
of
Buddah Records
Buddah Records (later known as Buddha Records) was an American record label founded in 1967 in New York City. The label was born out of Kama Sutra Records, an MGM Records-distributed label, which remained a key imprint following Buddah's foundin ...
asked the duo to come up with a marketing name for their music. Between 1967 and 1969 some of their bubblegum music releases are "Beg, Borrow and Steal," "1, 2, 3, Red Light," "Goody, Goody Gumdrops," "
Indian Giver", "Down at Lulu's," "Chewy, Chewy," "Mercy," "
Simon Says
Simon Says is a children's game for three or more players. One player takes the role of "Simon" and issues instructions (usually physical actions such as "jump in the air" or "stick out your tongue") to the other players, which should be foll ...
," "Special Delivery," "
Yummy Yummy Yummy" and "
Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'
"Gimme Gimme Good Lovin is a song written by Joey Levine and Ritchie Cordell and performed by Crazy Elephant. It reached #12 on both the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart in 1969, and was featured on their 1969 album, ''Crazy Elepha ...
."
In 1966, their first production was with Christine Cooper on "S.O.S. Heart In Distress." The same year Kasenetz and Katz began working with an Ohio band,
The Music Explosion
The Music Explosion was an American garage rock band from Mansfield, Ohio, discovered and signed by record producers Jerry Kasenetz and Jeffry Katz.
The quintet is best known for their number two hit record, hit, "Little Bit O' Soul". The single ...
, who recorded "
Little Bit O' Soul." Kasenetz got in his car and drove across the country promoting the song to radio stations. In July 1967, the song reached No. 2 on the ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
''
Hot 100
The ''Billboard'' Hot 100, also known as simply the Hot 100, is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales (physical and digital), o ...
chart, selling a million copies. This solidified Kasenetz and Katz as music industry players.
In 1977, Kasenetz and Katz achieved another top twenty hit "Black Betty" by the group
Ram Jam
Ram Jam was an American rock band formed in New York City and active in 1977 and 1978, mainly known for their hit single "Black Betty".
Overview
The band consisted of Bill Bartlett (guitar and lead vocals), Howie Arthur Blauvelt (bass), Pete ...
, featuring
Bill Bartlett of the
Lemon Pipers.
References
Living people
American record producers
1943 births
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