Ted Albert

Edward Frank 'Ted' Albert (1937–1990) was an early pioneer in Australian independent record production and founder of Albert Productions (part of Albert Music). In recognition of his contribution to the music industry, the Australasian Performing Right Association established the annual 'Ted Albert Award for Outstanding Services to Australian Music'.

Ted Albert joined the family music business, J. Albert & Son (now Albert Music) in the mid to late 1950s at a time when Rock and roll was emerging into the music mainstream in the United States, Australia and Europe. The early 1960s heralded the arrival of the independent record producers Phil Spector and Joe Meek and later still Shel Talmy. As artists in their own right, they had complete control of the creative process and shaped the band's recording sound.J. Albert & Son considered the opportunities presented by the Australia teenager consumer market.

In a letter dated June 1964 addressed to Alberts' New York based lawyer, Alex Albert wrote in part:

the time is at hand for a real boom in local (Australian contemporary) compositions and recordings and we have therefore entered this field with much more drive than ever before. We have formed an Artists and repertoire (A&R) department and have inaugurated a recording subsidiary we have called 'Albert Productions'.

Albert Productions was established as J. Albert & Son's A&R department in late 1964 with the sole intention of signing and recording Australian artists. Ted Albert was Albert Productions' first managing director. The company lacked any dedicated record facilities however, J. Albert & Son owned and operated Radio Station 2UW and made these studios and a theatre available to Albert Productions for recording and audition purposes. Later still, Alberts contracted EMI and its subsidiary Parlophone Records to handle record distribution. In late 1964 Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs was the first to sign to the Alberts label.

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