One of the most successful songwriters, businessmen and publishers was a man named, "Aaron Schroeder" who has a connection to so man successful songs...
“The Aaron Schroeder” Story
One of the most successful songwriters, businessmen and publishers was a man named, “Aaron Schroeder” who has a connection to so man successful songs, songwriters and artists, he must be listed in the WORLD OF GREATEST SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE EVER in the entire music business.
Starting out in the 1940’s, Schroeder wrote one side of Rosemary Clooney’s first record, “At a Sidewalk Penny Arcade”.
He went on to have songs recorded by such artists as, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Perry Como, Pat Boone, Sammy Davis, Jr., Nat King Cole, Roy Orbison, Dionne Warwick, Art Garfunkel, Arlo Guthrie and The Beatles.
Together with his regular partner at the time, Wally Gold, Aaron made some corrections to an unfinished piece of material called, “It’s My Party”. The other writer, Wally Gold, had brought this song to his partner.
When the work was done, Gold and Schroeder tossed a coin as to whose name should be listed as the sole writer. Schroeder “lost”. The song now has just one songwriter’s name on it, “Wally Gold”!
Of course, the boss, Aaron, himself, would win, no matter who was the writer, because he was the publisher of every song. The two winners, as I heard it, were :
Big Name artists/writers who wrote for Aaron Schroeder’s publishing company were :
Jimi Hendrix, who had a number of hits which he wrote himself
Al Kooper who wrote for & started the group, “Blood Sweat & Tears”.
Barry White, whose songs and records are still played throughout the world.
Randy Newman, a gifted rare “piece of work” who is still active in, both, the motion
picture and music business
Other songwriters were, Bob Dylan, Irwin Levine and Barry White.
Schroeder purchased the publishing interests of Dick Clark in 1960.
Those companies included:
Arch Music, January Music and Sea Lark Music (Bacharach & David), all successful music publishing companies with a large list of hits including, “Its My Party”, “Only Love can Break a Heart”, “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” and many more.
The biggest winners for Schroeder were as follows:
Aaron Schroeder, himself as the publisher of five #1 records sung by Elvis Presley! He wrote or co-wrote and published four other number one Presley songs included : It’s Now or Never (Taken from, Oh Solo Mio, an Italian melody) “I’m All Shook Up”, “Good Luck Charm”, “Big Hunka Love” and “I Got Stung”.