He was a songwriter and record label owner born Herbert Newman in Los Angeles, California whose father was Max Newman. He was brought up with his cousin and later business partner Lew Bedell.
After Lew and Herb decided to go into business together they founded Era Records with financial support from Max in 1955. Deciding to branch out and form a second record label they founded Dore Records in 1958.
Phil Spector approached Dore Records at the start with the song “To Know Him Is To Love Him” by The Teddy Bears. Herb wasn’t so happy with the arrangement but Phil and Lew disagreed so they released it as it was and it became an international hit. The disagreements often happened with regard to music over the next year or so and in 1959 they agree to go their own ways with Herb continuing with Era Records and Lew with Dore Records, which became a top label in the 1960s.
Several artists were also signed to Era Records including Jewel Akens, Donnie Brooks, Gogi Grant, Ketty Lester, The Lyrics, Art & Dotty Todd and Ty Wagner among others and several hit songs came out. Some of these included “Love Letters” by Ketty Lester, “Mr. Custer” by Larry Verne, “Mission Bell” by Donnie Brooks and “Chanson D’Amour” by Art & Dotty Todd and the international chart topping hit “The Wayward Wind” by Gogi Grant. In 1969 he released his cover album Herb Newman Presents AM FM.
He was also the owner of Candix Records during the 1960s and signed up The Pendletones in 1961 who changed their name to The Beach Boys and released “Surfin'”. Candix, however, went out of business in May 1962.
In the 1970s he sold Era Records label and catalogue to K-Tel and in 1993 K-Tel began to re-issue some of the material using the original logo and label.
As a songwriter some of the songs he has written/co-written include “And Her Name Is Scarlet” recorded by Bob Wilson, “It’s Not That Easy” recorded by Ronnie Height, “I’ve Arrived” and “The Birds and the Bees” (though also attributed to Herb’s 12 year old son) recorded by Jewel Akens, “He Stole Flo” by The Plaids and “The Wayward Wind” (co-written with Stanley Lebowsky), which has been recorded by many and been a No. 1 hit for Gogi Grant and Frank Ifield.
He died in Los Angeles in 1976 when he was 51 years old.
Frank Ifield recordings
The Wayward Wind (Stanley Lebowsky/Herb Newman)
Columbia 45-DB 4960
Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Era_Records
- https://www.npr.org/2012/01/09/140598430/dore-the-little-studio-that-could-produce-hits
- https://dereksmusicblog.com/2021/10/21/blow-my-mind-the-dore-era-mira-punk-and-psych-legacy/
- https://onehitwondersthebook.com/?page_id=5110
- https://www.history-of-rock.com/beach_boys.htm
- https://secondhandsongs.com/artist/12073/works#nav-entity
- https://secondhandsongs.com/release/299987
- https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/herb-newman/credits/
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/780201-Herbert-Newman
- https://www.allmusic.com/artist/herb-newman-mn0000676879/credits