Alan Livingston, Capitol Records President Who Signed the Beatles, Dead at 91

Music industry icon Alan Livingston, the man credited with signing the Beatles during his time as president of Capitol Records, passed away on March 13th due to age-related causes. He was 91. Livingston was at the helm during a tenure that saw Capitol also sign acts like the Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, the Steve Miller Band and the Band. Livingston is also noted for creating the Bozo the Clown character.

According to Billboard.biz, it was Livingston who decided that the label should release the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" as a single. The record company rejected earlier singles by the Fab Four, deeming them unsuitable for America. After releasing "I Want to Hold Your Hand" in 1963, Livingston brought the group over in 1964 and Beatlemania began. Livingston is also credited with reviving the career of Frank Sinatra after the Chairman of the Board saw his popularity lull in the early 1950s. Livingston recommended Sinatra work with composer Norman Riddle, resulting in songs like "I've Got the World on a String" and "Young-at-Heart."

Livingston is also responsible for inspiring the famed Capitol Records Tower in Los Angeles, LA Weekly reports, making that landmark the first circular office building ever constructed. Livingston received the Lifetime of Laughter Achievement Award from the Clown Hall of Fame in Milwaukee in 1998 for Bozo. Livingston is survived by his wife, actress Nancy Olsen, who was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 1950 for her role in Sunset Boulevard, one son, one daughter and a step-daughter.

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Song Stories

“Tonight's the Night”

The Shirelles | 1960

The lead cut and title track from this girl group's debut album, "Tonight's the Night" was written by 19-year-old bandmember Shirley Owens, who sings lead, and producer Luther Dixon. The band from Passaic, New Jersey met in high school, first calling themselves the Pequellos. The song's frank thoughts about sexual and emotional surrender was racy for the time, but that didn't stop the Chiffons from cutting a similar version immediately after the original came out. "We were the first female group to write some of our own material," band member Beverly Lee recalls. "We did have some say-so in our writing."

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