Eli Oberstein
| Eli Oberstein | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Elias Oberstein December 13, 1901 New York City, United States |
| Died | June 12, 1960 (aged 58) Westport, Connecticut, US |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Music executive, record label owner |
| Years active | c.1925–1960 |
| Known for | Founder of Bluebird Records and other labels |
| Children | Maurice Oberstein |
Elliott Everett "Eli" Oberstein (13 December 1901 – 12 June 1960) was an American record producer and music business executive who was responsible for establishing the influential Bluebird record label in the 1930s, and later owned a succession of small labels in the 1940s and 1950s
He was born Elias Oberstein in New York City, the son of Ella and Morris Oberstein, a police officer of Russian Jewish descent, and grew up in the Bronx. By 1920 he was working as a clothing salesman, before taking a job as a salesman under Ralph Peer at Okeh Records. In 1928, after Peer had joined the rival Victor Records, Oberstein joined him there as a salesman and accountant. By 1930 he had begun overseeing recording sessions, and that year also set up his own company, Crown Records, increasing his influence. After Peer left Victor in 1932, Oberstein began recording country musicians around the Southern states.
He is also credited with establishing the Bluebird record label in the early 1930s, as a 35-cent cut price subsidiary of Victor. The label became successful during the Depression era, and established the reputations of many country and blues musicians including The Delmore Brothers, Ernest Tubb, Big Bill Broonzy, and Roosevelt Sykes. In 1936 he became head of popular Artist & Repertoire at RCA Victor, He recruited Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey to RCA Victor, also adding Glenn Miller and Artie Shaw to the roster at Bluebird. As a record producer, Oberstein pioneered the practice of making deals with songwriters, music publishers and others, which eventually developed into what became known as "payola". In 1939, he was fired with no explanation by Victor Records.
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