American Country record producer and A&R executive for [l654].

Born: January 19, 1911 in Caledonia, Minnesota
Died: January 6, 2008 in Somis, California

Was in charge of the A&R division of Capitol Records and head of country music for many years, is credited for being one of the behind-the-scenes figures responsible for country music’s growth during the post-World War II era. During his many years with Capitol’s division in Hollywood, California, he produced many of the genre’s most notable and successful hits, by artists including Merle Travis, Gene Vincent, Ferlin Husky, Jean Shepard, Hank Thompson and the many Number 1 country hits known as the Bakersfield Sound by Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, along with many others.