Richard Gottehrer (born June 12, 1940) is an American songwriter, record producer and record label executive.
His career began as a
Brill Building songwriter in the 1960s.
His first number one record as a songwriter and producer was "
My Boyfriend's Back" by
the Angels, followed by other hits like "
Hang On Sloopy" by
the McCoys
The McCoys were a rock music, rock group formed in Fort Recovery, Ohio, United States, in 1962. They are best known for their 1965 hit single "Hang On Sloopy". Originally named Rick and the Raiders, they changed their name to "The McCoys" from ...
and "
I Want Candy" by
the Strangeloves, of which the latter Gottehrer was a member. In 1966, he formed
Sire Records
Sire Records (formerly Sire Records Company) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group and distributed by Warner Records.
History Beginnings
The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gotteh ...
with
Seymour Stein.
His career continued as producer for
the Go-Go's' 1981
debut album,
Dr. Feelgood,
Richard Hell,
the Bongos
The Bongos are a power pop band from Hoboken, New Jersey, that emerged from the New York City arts scene, primarily active in the 1980s, led by Richard Barone. With their unique musical style, they were major progenitors of the Hoboken indie-pop ...
and
Moonpools & Caterpillars' first release with a major label, 1995's ''Lucky Dumpling''.
In 1997, he co-founded
The Orchard with business partner
Scott Cohen, an independent music distribution company.
Personal life
Richard Gottehrer was born in
the Bronx
The Bronx ( ) is the northernmost of the five Boroughs of New York City, boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Bronx County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It shares a land border with Westchester County, New York, West ...
, New York on June 12, 1940.
He graduated from
Taft High School. He pursued a B.A. in history at
Adelphi University
Adelphi University is a private university in Garden City, New York, United States. Adelphi also has centers in Downtown Brooklyn, Hudson Valley, and Suffolk County in addition to a virtual, online campus for remote students. As of 2019, it had ...
, spent one year at
Brooklyn Law School
Brooklyn Law School (BLS) is a Private university, private law school in New York City. Founded in 1901, it has approximately 1,100 students. Brooklyn Law School's faculty includes 60 full-time faculty, 15 emeriti faculty, and adjunct faculty.
...
, then pursued a career in the music industry. Gottehrer is Jewish.
Career
Gottehrer came to prominence as a songwriter in the 1960s. His more notable songs are "
My Boyfriend's Back" and "
I Want Candy". As Feldman-Goldstein-Gottehrer (FGG Productions), he wrote various songs with
Jerry Goldstein and Bob Feldman, including "
Sorrow", also by the McCoys, later covered by
David Bowie
David Robert Jones (8 January 194710 January 2016), known as David Bowie ( ), was an English singer, songwriter and actor. Regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Bowie was acclaimed by critics and musicians, pa ...
on his ''
Pin Ups'' album.
In 1964, Feldman, Goldstein and Gottehrer created an allegedly
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
n
beat group called
the Strangeloves.
In 1966, Gottehrer founded
Sire Records
Sire Records (formerly Sire Records Company) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group and distributed by Warner Records.
History Beginnings
The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gotteh ...
with
Seymour Stein.
By the 1970s, he had progressed to record production, and was responsible for the debut albums by
Blondie and
the Go-Go's. Among the other artists produced by Gottehrer were
Marshall Crenshaw,
Richard Hell and the Voidoids
Richard Hell and the Voidoids were an American punk rock band, formed in New York City in 1976 and fronted by Richard Hell, a former member of the Neon Boys, Television (band), Television and the Heartbreakers.
History
Kentucky-born Richard H ...
,
Joan Armatrading,
the Fleshtones,
the Bongos
The Bongos are a power pop band from Hoboken, New Jersey, that emerged from the New York City arts scene, primarily active in the 1980s, led by Richard Barone. With their unique musical style, they were major progenitors of the Hoboken indie-pop ...
,
Richard Barone,
Mental as Anything,
Robert Gordon,
Link Wray
Fred Lincoln "Link" Wray Jr. (May 2, 1929 – November 5, 2005) was an American guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist who became popular in the late 1950s. His 1958 Instrumental rock, instrumental single "Rumble (instrumental), Rumble", reached the ...
,
Dr. Feelgood and short-lived, electro-punk outfit
Chiefs of Relief.
In 1997, Gottehrer founded
the Orchard, a digital music distribution company.
In 2010, he produced
Dum Dum Girls' debut album ''I Will Be'', and continued producing them until the band broke up. He also joined the 9th annual Independent Music Awards judging panel to assist independent musicians' careers.
References
External links
The OrchardWFMU in-depth interviewby
Michael Shelley
Interview, HitQuarters Nov 2000Shallow Rewards No. 18 The Real McCoy: On Richard Gottehrer
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gotteher, Richard
1940 births
Living people
Record producers from New York (state)
Songwriters from New York (state)
American male songwriters
Jewish American musicians
21st-century American Jews
Adelphi University alumni