Jonathan Stuart

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Jonathan Stuart is an American actor, writer, and record producer, who is best known as the Vice President of Viper Records. The New York-based label was originally founded to provide a home for Stuart's album New Prohibition. Murphy soon found a home with Viper and Jonathan realized the potential for Viper to provide an outlet for socially relevant counterculture material that would otherwise go unreleased.

Stuart has been involved with drug law and prison reform since his arrest in 1964 for possession of 1/4 ounce of marijuana. Stuart began writing plays while in prison. After his release from prison, his first play, Envelope, was produced by the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. He then spent some time as assistant director to Tom Ohorgan for the San Francisco production of Hair. In 1970, Stuart co-founded the Barbwire Theatre. The theatre company consisted of ex-convicts who produced The Cage and toured the country promoting prison reform. In 1972, Stuart wrote and directed The Second Hottest Show in Town, a nude improvisational revue. In 1974, he was the production stage manager for Lincoln Center. In 1976, Stuart produced Barnaby Bye for Atlantic Records, Sky King for Columbia Records, Bugatti & Musker, Street Punk, Urban Blight, John Pousette-Dart, Peppy Castro, Chris Brubeck, Sam Butler, Richard Cox and more. In 1978, Jonathan co-authored Mary Jane, a musical revue that celebrates marijuana, with Zolton Soldgroff. Mary Jane played in the Park Royal Theatre in New York City. Over 20 humorous songs were performed with the audience often singing along. Costumes were designed by Jonathan's wife, Helena Stuart. The couple later opened a successful retail/wholesale clothing business, Only Hearts. New Prohibition is the modern manifestation of Mary Jane. A percentage of profits from the sale of New Prohibition is donated to organizations dedicated to changing current drug laws. In 2001, Immortal Technique was made the executive vice president of Viper, bringing the label much more exposure.