Steve Brodie (record executive)

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.^[1] During the 1960s, he headed Master's Releasing Corp.^[2] His promotion and production work included making "Wild Weekend" for The Rockin' Rebels a hit.^[3][4] 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.^[5] The record labels he owned included Thunderbird Records.^[6]

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.^[7]

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".^[8] By June that year, Brodie was working for Fernwood Records.^[9] It would eventually get to #5.^[10]

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.^[11][12][13] 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.^[14][15]

In 1973, his partnership of Transcontinental Record Sales and Best & Gold Distribution was brought out by Leonard Silver.^[16]

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.^[17][18]

In 1991, he founded Forevermore Records with his nephew Christopher Biehler.^[19]

In 1967, Brodie was on the West Coast promoting an act from Buffalo, The Rogues with their single "Say You Love Me".^[20][21] In 1969, The Sir Men had their single, "You're Never Gonna Find Another Love" released on the label.^[22] A Hot 100 pick,^[23] the master of the single had been acquired from the label by Kama Sutra and released on that label^[24] where it became a hit.^[25][26] 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.^[27][28]

Brodie died of a heart attack on March 15, 2004. He was 77 years of age.^[29]

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• 45Cat: Thunderbird - Label Discography
• Justia US Law: Cummins v. Brodie