Alan A. Freeman

Alan A. Freeman ( born September 28, 1918 † 1983) was an Australian music producer in the UK.

The largest gained fame Freeman probably the fact that he was from 1949 to 1963, the producer of Petula Clark, to Tony Hatch took over this role from him. Hatch Petula made ​​with internationally known, but it was Freeman who had encouraged her musical career since she was 17.

Alan Freeman's dream has always been to own his own record label and publishing their own records. In 1949, he worked as a representative for the music publishing house of Eddie Kazner when he inherited a little money and could therefore begin to realize his dream. His friend Joe Henderson knew the young Petula Clark, whose father Leslie gladly wanted to help her to a recording career. Joe made ​​known with Alan Leslie, who then invested by his (or Petulas ) money in the new label.

The label, Polygon Records was Alan's brave attempt to get a foot in the UK record market - was ruled at a time when the latter from brands such as Decca and HMV ( EMI). The first recordings were then also actually made for the Australian market, where Alan and contacts had once wanted to practice a bit.

By 1950, he got polygon and running, and in the five years that existed the label, more than 180 plates were made ​​, all by Alan produced. 50 of the titles were of Petula. In 1955 it was time for a change. The label had indeed recorded small successes, including even some chart hits ( the biggest of which was The Little Shoemaker by Petula Clark in 7th place ), but the big breakthrough was slow in coming.

Alan has been contacted by New Zealand businessman Hilton Nixon, who had a similar dream like Alan. Hilton founded Nixa Records, but had problems with the distribution and sells a part of his company to Pye radio. Under the label of Pye Nixa Records polygon was combined with Nixa. Alan continued to produce records, but had to share the responsibility with others. 1959 allowed the company the ' Nixa ' cease and became Pye Records.

Petula still took on plates for Pye, but no longer had a hit since 1958 had. Alan had found a song that brought her career in the UK back on track: the song " Sailor " by Werner Scharfenberg and Fini Busch, with the Lolita in Germany and the rest of Europe had a huge hit. Norman Newell wrote ( under the pseudonym David West ) an English text for Sailor - and they ended up so Petulas first number 1 hit in the UK ( 23 February 1961).

Petulas plates were then produced by Tony Hatch, and she started with Sailor an international career with two different number - one hits in the UK and the USA. The man who had helped her, first making records, but she has never forgotten and called him in the end 70s even Australia, to congratulate him on his 50th birthday.

  • Music producer
  • Australian
  • Man
  • Born in 1918
  • Died in 1983
Joe "Mr Piano" Henderson Decca Records
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