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Ewart Abner, the son of a minister, was born in Chicago[4] and graduated from Englewood High School in 1939. He went to Howard University and studied pharmacy but dropped out and served in the military. After the war, he got a degree in accounting from DePaul University in 1949. Between 1950 and 1954, he served at the Chance label as the owner Art Sheridan's right-hand man handling the finances of the business.[5]
Vee-Jay RecordsEdit
In 1954, Abner became part owner and general manager of Vee-Jay Records.[3] He was appointed president of Vee-Jay in 1961 and with the addition of artists such as Jerry Butler, the Four Seasons, Gene Chandler, Holly Maxwell, Dee Clark, Betty Everett, John Lee Hooker, and Jimmy Reed, the company continued to grow as a major independent.[2] According to The New York Times, “Mr. Abner also oversaw the first American releases of recordings by the Beatles. Although the group was recording for EMI in England, EMI's American affiliate, Capitol, had turned down its first releases. Vee Jay signed the group for American distribution in January 1963, and released a handful of singles and an album, 'Introducing the Beatles.' All the material Vee Jay released was later reissued by Capitol.”[6] The Los Angeles Times reports that "In addition to releasing the Beatles' first U.S. record, [Abner] developed such artists as the Four Seasons, the Impressions and Jimmy Reed."[7][8]
Abner left Vee-Jay Records after having a “business disagreement” with his partners.[2][8] Meanwhile, Abner formed Constellation Records in August 1963 with partners Art Sheridan and Bill "Bunky" Sheppard. Constellation experienced its most notable success with Gene Chandler.[9]
Motown YearsEdit
Abner was hired by Berry Gordy to be vice-president of International Management at Motown in 1967.[10] He was President of Motown from 1973 to 1975. In both of these roles, he helped “manage the careers of the Supremes, the Temptations, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, the Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and the Jackson Five,” according to the New York Times.[6][1] While President of Motown, in 1973 the company reached No. 1 with the singles “Superstition” and “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” (Stevie Wonder), “Touch Me in the Morning” (Diana Ross), “Let’s Get It On” (Marvin Gaye), and “Keep on Truckin’” (Eddie Kendricks).[2]
After leaving Motown, he served for a decade as personal and business manager for Stevie Wonder. In that role, he played a major part in many of the efforts to establish a Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday.[1] He was given the NAACP Image Award and was inducted into the Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.[3] He remained close to Berry Gordy and served as an advisor to him until his death.[7] He also was vice chairman of the Motown Historical Museum in Detroit.[7]
DeathEdit
Abner died on December 27, 1997, in Los Angeles, California. He was 74. At his passing, Abner was survived by his wife, Olivia Watson Abner, a brother, David, seven children, Billie Piantino, Diane Patterson, Chemin Ware, and Tony, Allison, Ewart G. III, and Casey Abner, two grandsons, and one great-granddaughter.[7]
ReferencesEdit
^ abc"Ewart G. Abner Jr. dies at 74". Variety. January 7, 1998.
^ abcdBoyd, Herb (January 31, 2019). "Ewart Abner Jr., an astute visionary in the music industry". Amsterdam News.
^ abc"MOTOWN FIGURE EWART G. ABNER JR. DIES". Washington Post. January 7, 1998.
^Cook County Clerk Genealogy Records. Cook County Clerk’s Office, Chicago, IL
^Robert Pruter, Doowop: The Chicago Scene, Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 1997, pp. 22-23.
^ abKozinn, Allan (January 12, 1998). "Ewart Abner Jr., 74, President of Motown Label". New York Times.
^ abcdOliver, Myrna (January 6, 1998). "Ewart G. Abner Jr.; Recording Industry Executive". Los Angeles Times.
^ abGreene, Bryan (23 February 2022). "The Black Record Label That Introduced the Beatles to America". Smithsonian Magazine. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
^"Constellation Records". Colin Larkin, ed. Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Oxford University Press.
^"Obituaries in the News". Associated Press. January 7, 1998.
October 21, 2023
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This article relies largely or entirely on a single source Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources Find sources Ewart Abner news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2019 Ewart Gladstone Abner Jr May 11 1923 December 27 1997 was a major American record company executive who was President of Motown Records from 1973 to 1975 and was personal and business manager for Stevie Wonder for 10 years 1 2 In his executive roles at Motown he helped direct careers for Marvin Gaye Smokey Robinson and the Miracles The Temptations and the Jackson 5 3 Ewart AbnerAbner in 1975Background informationBirth nameEwart Gladstone Abner Jr Born 1923 05 11 May 11 1923Chicago Illinois USDiedDecember 27 1997 1997 12 27 aged 74 Los Angeles California USOccupation s Record executiveYears active1955 1997 Contents 1 Career 1 1 Vee Jay Records 1 2 Motown Years 2 Death 3 ReferencesCareer EditEwart Abner the son of a minister was born in Chicago 4 and graduated from Englewood High School in 1939 He went to Howard University and studied pharmacy but dropped out and served in the military After the war he got a degree in accounting from DePaul University in 1949 Between 1950 and 1954 he served at the Chance label as the owner Art Sheridan s right hand man handling the finances of the business 5 Vee Jay Records Edit In 1954 Abner became part owner and general manager of Vee Jay Records 3 He was appointed president of Vee Jay in 1961 and with the addition of artists such as Jerry Butler the Four Seasons Gene Chandler Holly Maxwell Dee Clark Betty Everett John Lee Hooker and Jimmy Reed the company continued to grow as a major independent 2 According to The New York Times Mr Abner also oversaw the first American releases of recordings by the Beatles Although the group was recording for EMI in England EMI s American affiliate Capitol had turned down its first releases Vee Jay signed the group for American distribution in January 1963 and released a handful of singles and an album Introducing the Beatles All the material Vee Jay released was later reissued by Capitol 6 The Los Angeles Times reports that In addition to releasing the Beatles first U S record Abner developed such artists as the Four Seasons the Impressions and Jimmy Reed 7 8 Abner left Vee Jay Records after having a business disagreement with his partners 2 8 Meanwhile Abner formed Constellation Records in August 1963 with partners Art Sheridan and Bill Bunky Sheppard Constellation experienced its most notable success with Gene Chandler 9 Motown Years Edit Abner was hired by Berry Gordy to be vice president of International Management at Motown in 1967 10 He was President of Motown from 1973 to 1975 In both of these roles he helped manage the careers of the Supremes the Temptations Smokey Robinson and the Miracles the Four Tops Marvin Gaye Stevie Wonder and the Jackson Five according to the New York Times 6 1 While President of Motown in 1973 the company reached No 1 with the singles Superstition and You Are the Sunshine of My Life Stevie Wonder Touch Me in the Morning Diana Ross Let s Get It On Marvin Gaye and Keep on Truckin Eddie Kendricks 2 After leaving Motown he served for a decade as personal and business manager for Stevie Wonder In that role he played a major part in many of the efforts to establish a Martin Luther King Jr national holiday 1 He was given the NAACP Image Award and was inducted into the Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame 3 He remained close to Berry Gordy and served as an advisor to him until his death 7 He also was vice chairman of the Motown Historical Museum in Detroit 7 Death EditAbner died on December 27 1997 in Los Angeles California He was 74 At his passing Abner was survived by his wife Olivia Watson Abner a brother David seven children Billie Piantino Diane Patterson Chemin Ware and Tony Allison Ewart G III and Casey Abner two grandsons and one great granddaughter 7 References Edit a b c Ewart G Abner Jr dies at 74 Variety January 7 1998 a b c d Boyd Herb January 31 2019 Ewart Abner Jr an astute visionary in the music industry Amsterdam News a b c MOTOWN FIGURE EWART G ABNER JR DIES Washington Post January 7 1998 Cook County Clerk Genealogy Records Cook County Clerk s Office Chicago IL Robert Pruter Doowop The Chicago Scene Urbana IL University of Illinois Press 1997 pp 22 23 a b Kozinn Allan January 12 1998 Ewart Abner Jr 74 President of Motown Label New York Times a b c d Oliver Myrna January 6 1998 Ewart G Abner Jr Recording Industry Executive Los Angeles Times a b Greene Bryan 23 February 2022 The Black Record Label That Introduced the Beatles to America Smithsonian Magazine Smithsonian Institution Retrieved 14 April 2022 Constellation Records Colin Larkin ed Encyclopedia of Popular Music Oxford University Press Obituaries in the News Associated Press January 7 1998 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ewart Abner amp oldid 1154630731, 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