Richard Gottehrer

Richard Gottehrer (born 1940) is an American songwriter, record producer and record label executive.[1] In 1997, he founded The Orchard, an independent music and video distribution company.

Richard Gottehrer
Born1940 (age 80–81)
The Bronx, New York, United States
Alma materAdelphi University
OccupationMusic producer, music executive

His career began as a Brill Building songwriter in the 1960s.[2] His first number one record as a songwriter and producer was "My Boyfriend's Back" by The Angels followed by other hits like “Hang On Sloopy” by The McCoys, and "I Want Candy" by The Strangeloves, of which Gottehrer was a member.[3] In 1966, he formed Sire Records with Seymour Stein, which played a crucial role in the rise of New Wave, and went on to launch the careers of Blondie, Madonna, The Ramones and Talking Heads.[4] His career continued as producer for The Go-Go's 1981 debut album, Dr. Feelgood, Richard Hell, The Bongos, and Moonpools & Caterpillars first release with a major, 1995's "Lucky Dumpling". In 2013, The Orchard was described as "the biggest digital music distributor on the planet".[4]

Personal life

Gottehrer was born in The Bronx, New York, United States.[2] Gottehrer graduated from Taft High School. He pursued a B.A. in History at Adelphi University, spent one year at Brooklyn Law School, then pursued a career in the music industry. Gottehrer is Jewish.[5]

Career

Gottehrer came to prominence as a songwriter in the 1960s; his more notable songs are "My Boyfriend's Back" and "I Want Candy." As Feldman-Goldstein-Gottehrer (FGG Productions), he wrote various songs, including "Sorrow" - also by The McCoys and then covered by David Bowie on his Pin Ups album - with Jerry Goldstein and Bob Feldman.[2] The three were known as The Strangeloves.[2]

By the 1970s, he had progressed to record production, and was responsible for the debut albums by Blondie and The Go-Go's. Among the other artists produced by Gottehrer were Marshall Crenshaw (1982), Richard Hell and the Voidoids, Joan Armatrading, The Fleshtones, The Bongos, Richard Barone, Mental As Anything, Robert Gordon, Link Wray and Dr. Feelgood and short-lived, electro-punk outfit Chiefs of Relief.[2]

With Seymour Stein, Gottehrer founded Sire Records in 1966, and in 1997, he founded The Orchard, a digital music distribution company.

In 2010, he produced Dum Dum Girls' debut album I Will Be, and continues producing them to this day. He also joined the 9th annual Independent Music Awards judging panel to assist independent musicians' careers.

On May 5, 2014, Gottehrer received SESAC's Visionary Award at the 2014 Pop Music Awards for his 50+ years of achievements in the music industry.[6]

Awards
  • SESAC "Visionary Award" - May 5, 2014

References
  1. Sisario, Ben (September 13, 2010). "Richard Gottehrer of the Orchard". Nytimes.com.
  2. Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 537. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  3. "Gary James' Interview With Richard Gottehrer Of The Strangeloves". Classicbands.com. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  4. "The Sire Records Story". Soundonsound.com. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  5. "Interview: Chris Stein". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  6. "Richard Gottehrer on Songwriting, Receiving SESAC's Visionary Award". Billboard.biz. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
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