Mike Rashkow: Difference between revisions
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== Mary in the Morning == |
== Mary in the Morning == |
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Rashkow began writing with his friend, Johnny Cymbal, whom Rashkow had brought to ABC from Cymbal's previous staff position at South Mountain Music, the [[Don Costa]]/[[Teddy Randazzo]] firm - and they soon wrote "Mary in the Morning", which became a world-wide hit. It has sold in excess of 10,000,000 recordings, attained BMI's Million Performance status, and in 2006 is approaching two million perfomances. Rashkow and Cymbal also wrote numerous other songs including "Julie On My Mind" which, as recorded by [[Adam Wade]], became a hit in the Carribean Islands and is today still well known among reggae enthusiasts. During that period, under the name, "Mike Lendell," Rashkow wrote and |
Rashkow began writing with his friend, Johnny Cymbal, whom Rashkow had brought to ABC from Cymbal's previous staff position at South Mountain Music, the [[Don Costa]]/[[Teddy Randazzo]] firm - and they soon wrote "Mary in the Morning", which became a world-wide hit. It has sold in excess of 10,000,000 recordings, attained BMI's Million Performance status, and in 2006 is approaching two million perfomances. Rashkow and Cymbal also wrote numerous other songs including "Julie On My Mind" which, as recorded by [[Adam Wade]], became a hit in the Carribean Islands and is today still well known among reggae enthusiasts. During that period, under the name, "Mike Lendell," Rashkow wrote, produced and sang lead on a novelty tune "Please Phil Spector" which was not released in the US, but received airplay overseas. That recording was subsequently included in a BBC doumentary film about [[Phil Spector]] and more recently a tribute compilation CD, " Phil's Spectre" on ACE. Contractual issues stalled the Cymbal/Rashkow writing partnership shortly thereafter. (In 1978 Cymbal and Rashkow reunited and wrote a number of songs for the Nashville market.) |
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== Partnership with Ellie Greenwich == |
== Partnership with Ellie Greenwich == |
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Revision as of 16:07, 13 October 2006
Michael Rashkow is an American songwriter and record producer. He co-wrote "Mary in the Morning" with Johnny Cymbal. It was recorded by Elvis Presley, Glen Campbell, Al Martino, Dire Straits's Guy Fletcher, and many other artists. He formed Pineywood Productions with Ellie Greenwich in the late 1960s. Among the artists they wrote for and produced were Dusty Springfield, The Daily News, The Definitive Rock Chorale, The Fuzzy Bunnies, and The Other Voices. They published several songs written by Paul Levinson, a member of The Other Voices.
Early years
Rashkow came to the music business without any background or credentials in the industry - having been a golf professional and a golf equipment manufacturer's rep from 1960 through 1965. His entree was via the recording studio and he became a recoding engineer who worked at Bell Sound, Sounds On Broadway, National Recording and Broadway Recording. His first songwriting partner was Mikie Harris a noted NYC background singer of the 1960's, and later assistant to John Hammond.
Rashkow and Harris were married in 1966 and had two children, Randy and Roger (Duke). Though signed as staff writers to Pamco Music, the BMI wing of ABC-Paramount Records, they were not successful as a writing team.
Mary in the Morning
Rashkow began writing with his friend, Johnny Cymbal, whom Rashkow had brought to ABC from Cymbal's previous staff position at South Mountain Music, the Don Costa/Teddy Randazzo firm - and they soon wrote "Mary in the Morning", which became a world-wide hit. It has sold in excess of 10,000,000 recordings, attained BMI's Million Performance status, and in 2006 is approaching two million perfomances. Rashkow and Cymbal also wrote numerous other songs including "Julie On My Mind" which, as recorded by Adam Wade, became a hit in the Carribean Islands and is today still well known among reggae enthusiasts. During that period, under the name, "Mike Lendell," Rashkow wrote, produced and sang lead on a novelty tune "Please Phil Spector" which was not released in the US, but received airplay overseas. That recording was subsequently included in a BBC doumentary film about Phil Spector and more recently a tribute compilation CD, " Phil's Spectre" on ACE. Contractual issues stalled the Cymbal/Rashkow writing partnership shortly thereafter. (In 1978 Cymbal and Rashkow reunited and wrote a number of songs for the Nashville market.)
Partnership with Ellie Greenwich
In 1967, Rashkow formed Pineywood Productions and Pineywood Music with Ellie Greenwich. This was Rashkow's most productive period. In addition to the artists mentioned above, Rashkow and Greenwich also signed and recorded Steve Tudanger, previously one of the voices of the Monkees, among other groups. Tudanger had releases on Mercury Records and on Wes Farrell's Chelsea label, but though well received were not succesful.
Later years
Alone, Rashkow produced the radio personality and author Jean Shepherd in a spoken word/comedy format and Jesse Henderson, a Newark-based soul artist. Shortly thereafter Rashkow left the music business and went into advertising as a copywriter. He later formed his own advertising/graphic design firm specializing in marketing for the race horse industry. That agency, started in 1981, was sold in 1999. Rashkow is retired and resides with his second wife, Barbara, in the Blue Ridge foothills of North Carolina.