Steve Popovich

Steve Popovich (July 6, 1942 – June 8, 2011) was a Serbian American record company executive. As the founder of Cleveland International Records, he launched and guided the careers of many famous artists through his work with the CBS label family, including The Jacksons, Cheap Trick, Bruce Springsteen, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, Bob Dylan, and Meat Loaf.^[1]

Personal life

Popovich was born in Nemacolin, Pennsylvania, a coal-mining town. In the late '50s, he moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he joined a Cleveland-based rock band, the Twilighters, part of a small group of popular local R&B-based bands who launched the area's rock scene in the pre-Beatles era.^[1]

Early career: Columbia and Epic

In 1962, he began an inventory control job in the warehouse at Columbia Records' local branch. His enthusiasm for music led to a promotion to the sales desk, where he handled local Cleveland sales and radio and TV promotion for such artists as The Buckinghams, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Billy Joe Royal, Johnny Cash, Paul Revere & the Raiders, and Simon & Garfunkel. In 1969 Ron Alexenburg, Director of Promotion at Columbia, promoted him to become his assistant.

In 1972, at the age of 30, record executive Clive Davis appointed him the first Vice President of Promotion for Columbia Records, making him the youngest VP at CBS at the time. As VP of Promotion, his local and regional staff continued their work with The Buckinghams, Johnny Cash, and Paul Revere & the Raiders, and also worked to promote artists including Loggins & Messina, Jerry Vale, O.C. Smith, Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show, Shel Silverstein, Boz Scaggs, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Santana, Janis Joplin, Marty Robbins, Lynn Anderson, Tom Rush, David Bromberg, The New York Rock & Roll Ensemble, Dave Mason, West, Bruce & Laing, Mahavishnu Orchestra, It's a Beautiful Day, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Johnny Mathis, Chicago, Percy Faith, Tony Bennett, Peter Nero, Earth, Wind & Fire, Taj Mahal, The Manhattans, The Wombles, Mark Lindsay, Tony Bennett, Eric Andersen, Andy Williams, Ray Coniff, David Essex, Chambers Brothers, Miles Davis, Mott the Hoople, Johnny Winter and others. In 1972-73 he was voted National Promotion Man of the Year by Billboard Magazine.

From 1974 to 1976 he worked under Alexenburg as Vice President for A&R at Epic Records, signing and launching the careers of artists including Jaco Pastorious, Boston, Cheap Trick, Ted Nugent, Wild Cherry, Suzy and the Red Stripes, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, Bettye LaVette, George Duke, Doc Severinsen, Joe Tex, Dave Loggins, Charlie Rich and The Soul Children. Popovich and Alexenburg won the Clive Davis Award for Promotion Excellence.

Cleveland International Records and later career

He was founder and president of Cleveland International Records from 1977 to 1982, whose biggest success was Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell, which sold 40 million records worldwide.^[2] The label also had international success with Jim Steinman’s solo album Bad for Good, and Ellen Foley's Night Out. The company’s first single was in 1977 featuring "Say Goodbye to Hollywood", Ronnie Spector & The E Street Band produced by Miami Steve Van Zandt.

In 1986 he was SR Vice President of Polygram Nashville working with the Statler Brothers, Tom T. Hall, and Kathy Mattea and signing Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Paycheck, Frank Yankovic (winner of First Polka Grammy 1986), Wayne Toups & Zydecajun, Donna Fargo, David Lynn Jones, Everly Brothers, and special projects like The Class of ’55 Album featuring Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins.

Cleveland International Records' roster between 1995 and 2011 included David Allan Coe, Frank Yankovic, Brave Combo, Eddie Blazonczyk, The Singing Nun, Chas & Dave, Michael Learns to Rock, and Roger Martin.

In 1997 Popovich was inducted into the National Cleveland-Style polka Hall of Fame.^[3]

Popovich suffered from weight problems for much of his adult life, and became a vegan. He died aged 68 in Nashville, and was survived by son Steve Jr and daughter Pam.

Popovich has been involved as co-producer and/or label in six Grammy nominations and winner of two.^[3]

References