What do Bozo the Clown and The Beatles have in common? I mean, besides the obvious raw sex appeal. Answer: Alan W. Livingston. Mr. Livingston, who was the former president of Capitol Records, passed away today at the age of 91. He started at the company in 1946 writing kids' records, back when Capitol did the best anyone has ever done…with full orchestras (sometimes led by Billy May) and superstar voice casts. On one of the first ones he wrote, he created the character of Bozo the Clown, who became the star of best-selling albums and a kind of Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval on the entire Capitol line.
As Mr. Livingston worked his way up to the presidency of the company, he did a lot of different things. He signed Frank Sinatra at a low point in his career and steered a major comeback. He signed a new comedian named Stan Freberg. He was involved in the launch of a new TV show called Bonanza. And, oh yeah…he signed The Beatles. Can't do much better than that.
That's only some of what this man did (more but not all is listed in this obit) but it's more than enough to warrant a salute and our thanks for stacks and stacks of memorable wax.