Alan W. Livingston
Alan W. Livingston
Alan Wendell Livingstonwas an American businessman best known for his tenures at Capitol Records, first as a writer/producer best known for creating Bozo the Clown for a series of record-album and illustrative read-along children's book sets. He was credited with signing The Beatles but that was actually George Martin of EMIIn fact, Livingston turned down the first few Beatles releases. In-between, as Vice-President in charge of Programming at NBC, in 1959 he oversaw the development and launch of the network's...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBusinessman
Date of Birth15 October 1917
CountryUnited States of America
My father was placid and easygoing. He owned a small shoe store where I helped out on Saturdays. I think he'd have been pleased if I'd made a career of working in the shoe store. But my mother was ambitious. She encouraged us to read books, and she pushed us toward a musical education.
I've always been very attentive to detail. It's a characteristic that drives some people crazy. But on the other hand, when people around me are sloppy, that drives me crazy.
I read somewhere once that you could be whatever you wanted. As long as I could remember, I was determined to make my way in the big world. And that meant New York.
I don't like to leave anything unfinished. I have an absolute need to see that every phone call is returned, every letter answered.
I decided to combine my musical background, business education and creative abilities - and go into the record business.