Steve Brodie (c.1927 – March 15, 2004) was an American record label owner and founder who was very active during the 1960s and 1970s. He owned or co-owned Thunderbird Records, Sahara Records, Forever Music and various others. He also produced recordings for artists.
Background Part of Brodie's history in the music business includes his work as a promoter. He played a big part in helping "Tragedy" become a hit for Thomas Wayne.Scotty and Elvis: Aboard the Mystery Train, By Scotty Moore - Page 143 During the 1960s, he headed Master's Releasing Corp.Billboard, May 1, 1965 - Page 58 Master's Bows LP of Polkas His promotion and production work included making "Wild Weekend" for The Rockin' Rebels a hit.Popsike - ROCKIN' REBELS WILD WEEKEND SWAN SLP-509 SUPER RARE LPBillboard, April 17, 2004 - Page 76 MILEPOSTS In distribution he was co-owner of Best Record Distributors and Gold Record Distributors. He was also co-owner of Transcontinent Record Sales and Amherst Records. Along with Leonard Silver, he opened a chain of music stores, Record Theater.Billboard, April 17, 2004 - Page 76 MILEPOSTS The record labels he owned included Thunderbird Records.Billboard, August 16, 1969 - Page 58International News Reports, NEW YORK
Career 1960s to 1970s In 1959, Brodie was hired by Scotty Moore as their national promotion man to push Thomas Wayne's song "Tragedy". Brodie said that he could make the song a big hit. Working with Robert Buckalew who was an attorney from Memphis, they persuaded record pressing plants to give them 60 days credit to allow time for royalties to come in. Brodie started off working Buffalo which was his home town. The record started climbing the charts there. Brodie then turned his attention to focus on the bigger markets. By March it was at #8 on the National charts at a million seller. Brodie was paid a nickel per record.Scotty and Elvis: Aboard the Mystery Train, By Scotty Moore - Page 143
In 1960, he was a music promotor, manager and record producer. He also headed Best Records. Among the acts he managed were Hot Toddies and Larry Hall who had a hit with "Sandy".The Billboard, January 11, 1960 - Page 6 MUSIC NEWS, Brodie Adds 2 One-Stops By June that year, Brodie was working for Fernwood Records.Billboard, June 20, 1960 - Page 51 MUSIC AS WRITTEN, New York - Bob Rolontz It would eventually get to #5.AllMusic - Thomas Wayne Biography
Along with partner Leonard Silver he played a major part in making "Wild Weekend" a hit for The Rockin' Rebels. They had the song released on their Marlee Label. Later it was licensed to Swan Records. A year later it was re-discovered by, WNDR DJ Dan Leonard which made it a hit again.Popsike - ROCKIN' REBELS WILD WEEKEND SWAN SLP-509 SUPER RARE LPBillboard, April 17, 2004 - Page 76 MILEPOSTSCD Baby - Wild Weekend by Rockin' Rebels, Album Notes In 1965, Brodie had success with "The Hump", a single by The Invictas which he put out on his Sahara label. It was a number one in Miami, it made The Billboard Top 100. Locally it also outsold "Ticket To Ride" by The Beatles.Rochester City Newspaper, Jun 1, 2005 - Still humpin' after all these years By Frank De Blase Rochester Institute of Technology - Success Stories’60s band formed at RIT is on the road again in a big Caddy hearse.Rockers haven’t gotten over ‘The Hump’
In 1973, his partnership of Transcontinental Record Sales and Best & Gold Distribution was brought out by Leonard Silver.Billboard, September 29, 1973 - Page 66 Late News, Inside Track, Silver & Hawk Tee Off Label
1980s to 1990s In 1982, Elvis Wade an Elvis impersonator who Brodie had originally met in Texas in September, 1977 took him to court. Accusing Brodie of not fulfilling a contract, he was awarded $75,000. The claims that Wade made were that he was promised by Brodie, a role in a film, a recording contract, Las Vegas billing, a movie role, television special, and big money. Brodie denied discussing a movie or a TV 2 special. Brodie said that he had spent $61,677 producing and promoting records for Wade which had flopped. He also said that he didn't get any money from the records.CourtListener - Cummins v. Brodie, 667 S.W.2d 759 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1983)The Tennessean, Wednesday, December 1, 1982 - Page 8 Singer Elvis Wade Awarded $75,000 Court Judgment By ED CROMER
In 1991, he founded Forevermore Records with his nephew Christopher Biehler.FOREVERMORE - About Us
Thunderbird Records In 1967, Brodie was on the West Coast promoting an act from Buffalo, The Rogues with their single "Say You Love Me".Opulent Conceptions, August 28, 2010 - THE ROGUES - SECONDARY MANBillboard, August 16, 1969 - Page 58International News Reports, NEW YORK In 1969, The Sir Men had their single, "You're Never Gonna Find Another Love" released on the label.45Cat - The Sir Men - Discography A Hot 100 pick,Billboard, August 16, 1969 - Page 30 Radio-TV Programming, OTHER PICKS, HOT 100 the master of the single had been acquired from the label by Kama Sutra and released on that labelRecord World, November 22, 1969 - Page 30 Buddah Reactivates Kama Sutra where it became a hit.Record World , April 11, 1970 - Page 26 Record World ONE STOP Top TenSyracuse New Times, June 8, 2016 - ARTS, A Rockin’ Sunday Sermon By Bill DeLapp Another success for the label was in 1970 with "Heat Wave" by The Seven which was released on Thunderbird TH 534. It was on the WOLF chart for seven weeks.Discogs - The Seven, Discography, Singles & EPsHistory of Syracuse Music, Monday, January 30, 2012 - HISTORY OF SYRACUSE MUSIC - CHAPTER 25 - "THE SEVEN" (1969-72) ** UPDATE**
Death Brodie died of a heart attack on March 15, 2004. He was 77 years of age.Billboard, April 17, 2004 - Page 76 MILEPOSTS
Production work + Singles Act Release Catalogue Year Role Notes # Wilmer Alexander Jr. And The Dukes "Living In The U.S.A." / "Get It" Aphrodisiac APH-269 1971 Producer 45Cat - Wilmer Alexander Jr. And The Dukes - Discography Brad Swanson And His Whispering Organ Sound "Ragtime '74 (A Tribute To Robert Redford)" / "What'll I Do" Thunderbird TH550 1974 Producer South Orange Mummers Band "God Bless America" / "Happy Days Are Here Again" Thunderbird TH 551 1974 Producer 45Cat - Thunderbird - Label Discography Wilmer Alexander Jr. & the Dukes "Give Me One More Chance" / "Get It" Original Gold OR 502 Executive producer Discogs - Steve Brodie, Discography, Production
+ Albums Act Release Catalogue Year Role Notes # Brad Swanson 22 Great Ragtime Hits Thunderbird THDX 9018–2 1974 Executive producer 2LP Link Wray And His Ray Men Jack The Ripper Forevermore FVRCD-5002 1994 Executive producer CD Brad Swanson 22 All-Time Organ Favorites By Brad Swansonand his Whispering Organ Sound Forevermore – FVRCD 5004 Executive producer John Ellison, Soul Brothers Six The Very Best Of John Ellison And The Soul Brothers Six Forevermore FVR 5009 Producer Various artists Walk That Walk! Forevermore – FVR 5010 1995 Producer CD Discogs - Steve Brodie, Discography, Production
References
External links 45Cat: Thunderbird - Label Discography Justia US Law: Cummins v. Brodie