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A veteran of more than 35 years in the entertainment industry, Shelly Liebowitz’s diversified background and wide range of experiences has allowed him to explore all facets of the music industry including writer, director, record promoter, record producer, and personal manager - eventually leading into an executive career in recording and publishing companies.
Background
In the early sixties, still just a teenager, Liebowitz attended his first recording session. It was a life altering event set that set the tone for the rest of his life. He began to frequent studios in New York City during the recording sessions of top artists, watching and learning the process of making great music. Inspired, he wrote and recorded several songs of his own. Later, he joined "The Phantoms," a group with a strong following in the New York City area, as a guitarist and vocalist.
But despite success as a performer, his attention began to turn more and more towards the music-making process, rather than a love for the spotlight. Even at this early stage, Shelly felt he had the ability to see more in an artist then they could see in themselves. “It’s always great when you know you can bring out something in an artist they don't know they are capable of and have magic happen in the studio,” he says. “It’s having the perspective to see it in a different way that you know is better. You have to be willing to give of yourself and give back.”
Philosophy and Experience
Shelly learned the elements of great entertainment from some of the greatest artists of our time. He regards vision, commitment, dedication and experience as the cornerstones of a great artist. “The greats have one thing in common,” he says. “They have earned it - they have paid their dues and they never think that they are as good as they can be.”
To this end, he began work for several record companies in promotion. Later, he moved into the A & R department, learning all that he could about the business. By the seventies, he was producing records, organizing live shows and managing artists. He felt learning from the greats gave him the best foundation for understanding what it takes to make great entertainment happen. “What matters the most to me is the integrity of the artistic process. I realized early on that if I am doing my job, then I am not afraid to get my hands dirty if that’s what it takes to bring quality creative work to light.”
This philosophy served him well. By 1978, he was appointed Vice-President of East Coast Operations for Capitol Productions, a management company that represented more than 100 singers, musical groups, songwriters and actors. His creative opportunities broadened as well: during this period he wrote and directed two television sitcom pilots.
Beyond Corporate Boundaries
In 1980, he made the decision to leave the major labels, parting ways with Capitol Productions. His decision for this transition came about for several reasons, but the most pressing was the record companies’ emphasis on profit margins over the artistic process. This practice, he believed, was causing both artist and product to suffer. When he left, he decided to do what he did best – cultivate great artists. “My focus was and is the artist - how best to nurture the talent, promote them and to protect them – to set them up in an environment where they could flourish and be secure.”
Putting this philosophy into practice, he founded Belvedere Records, a label of his own. Its catalogue included some new artists and some that he had previously managed, and the label eventually released recordings by both rock and country groups. In time it produced several minor hits, and its roster began to grow. As president of the company and record producer, he also directed several music videos and started a music publishing company division to foster young songwriters.
It was during this time that he donated his services and talents to help out on two tribute shows at Radio City Music Hall for the Black Music Association: "To Basie With Love" (a tribute to Count Basie - 1982) and "Miles Ahead" (a tribute to Miles Davis - 1983.) Both shows were fund raising events for the BMA's musical scholarship fund. These events raised over $4 million for the scholarship funds. He also produced several benefit concerts for many other causes in and around the New York area.
In the mid 80's he sold Belvedere and concentrated on producing shows, records, concerts and managing talent. In 1986 he moved to Florida to form Creative Media, a company with talent management, video, and advertising and production divisions. He immediately focused on building up a new roster of clients, and continued to produce benefits, concerts and recordings. At this time he signed new talent such as The Johnson Boys, Darrell Chambers, Kim Hoyer, Da Boyz and Sandro.
In 1996, as a consultant for the International Jazz Hall of Fame, Shelly arranged for Steve Allen to host its induction ceremonies, along with many other presenters and sponsors.
Since 1999 he has been the President & CEO of the SRI Entertainment Group. He has also worked as the Executive Producer of "Judy, Frank & Dean," a pledge drive special for PBS Television stations nationwide; and as Executive In Charge Of Music Clearances for "Let's Do It Again" also for PBS Television.
Shelly Liebowitz has licensed recordings worldwide, has marketed recordings via the Internet and Direct Response Television Advertising, and acts as a consultant to several music industry companies.
Humanitarian Efforts
In the early 90s, Liebowitz produced a benefit concert for the Artificial Reef Foundation, which has since become an annual event called "The Coconuts Festival". In the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew in 1992, he again, quickly put his talents to work. To assist the Florida Hurricane Relief Fund, he produced a music video using the classic song "You'll Never Walk Alone" sung by Darrell Chambers, one of his recording artists. The filming took place the day after the Hurricane in some of the most devastated areas, with the blessing and support of the Governor’s office. It aired within 24 hours of being filmed and helped to raise nearly $4 million in relief funds.
Liebowitz feels it is important the world open their eyes and wallets to help others - to save our environment, our world, our political situation. “I know that we, and I mean the collective ‘we’ in the Entertainment Industry, have a duty to do this. We must answer that call to help change our world and our society as a whole.”
Shelly Liebowitz on the internet and in print…
Through the years Shelly Liebowitz has had the pleasure of working with many top name stars, including Sammy Davis Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Frankie Avalon, The Guess Who and many, many more. He has written several screenplays, television scripts and musical shows. His accomplishments have been the subject of several editions of "Who's Who," and he is featured in the "Dictionary of International Biography." He can be contacted at the SRI Entertainment Group at www.srirecords.com or you can email him here.
“For me it’s about the artist, the talent and the right project - when it all comes together that's when the magic happens. That's what thrills me.” – Shelly Liebowitz
Pavanne Reid, December 2007.
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