Independent (1980-Present)
In 1980 He left Capitol and formed Belvedere Records, a small independent label focused on rock and country music. The label included several artists carried over from Capitol, along with some new discoveries. In addition to his role as President, he also produced recordings, directed music videos and started a music publishing company division to develop young songwriters. In the early 1980s he donated his services to the Black Music Association to put on two tribute shows at Radio City Music Hall: “To Basie with Love” (1982) and “Miles Ahead” (1983.) Conceived as tributes to Count Basie and Miles Davis respectively, the shows also raised money for the BMA's musical scholarship fund. These were the first of many benefit concerts staged in and around the New York area. In the mid 1980s he sold Belvedere to focus on productions – shows, records, and concerts – and managing talent.
In 1986 he moved to Florida and formed Creative Media, a company with talent management, video, advertising and production divisions. In the following years he signed new talent such as The Johnson Boys, Darrell Chambers, Kim Hoyer, and Da Boyz.
It was during this time that Liebowitz produced a benefit concert for the Artificial Reef Foundation called “The Coconuts Festival”. In the aftermath of 1992's Hurricane Andrew, Liebowitz co-produced a music video for the Florida Hurricane Relief Fund featuring a rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” by one of his recording artists, Darrell Chambers. The filming took place the day after the hurricane in the most devastated areas, with the aid of the Governor’s office. It aired within 24 hours of being filmed and helped to raise nearly $4 million in relief funds.
In 1996 he took on work as a consultant for The International Jazz Hall of Fame, and assisted in arrangements for host Steve Allen, along with several presenters and sponsors for the IJHF’s Inductions Ceremonies.
In 1998 Liebowitz moved to Southern California, where he resides currently. There, he acted for a short time as a consultant before founding SRI Records in 1999. He was the executive producer of "Judy, Frank & Dean," which aired as part of a pledge drive special nationally for PBS Television stations. This special starred Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
Read more about this topic: Shelly Liebowitz
Famous quotes containing the word independent:
“Most works of art are effectively treated as commodities and most artists, even when they justly claim quite other intentions, are effectively treated as a category of independent craftsmen or skilled workers producing a certain kind of marginal commodity.”
—Raymond Williams (1921–1988)