Paul Rich
English singer and music publisher (1921–2000)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Paul Rich (born Simon Rickelman; 20 August 1921 – 23 February 2000)[1][2] was a singer and guitarist, recording many songs with Lou Preager's band. He later became a music publisher.
Early life
Rich was born in Marylebone, London, in 1921, the son of immigrants from Russia. His birth name was Simon Rickelman.[2]
Career
Rich studied guitar with Ivor Mairants, and in 1941 became a singer and guitarist with the Oscar Rabin Band. In 1942 he joined Lou Preager, whose band had begun a residency at the Hammersmith Palais in London; Rich made many recordings with the band, including "Cruising Down the River" in 1946. He also sang and played guitar as a solo artist at venues in the West End of London.[1][3]
In the 1950s, he appeared in a pub scene in the film Pool of London, which had music by Preager's band. He later appeared in a music hall scene in the film Counterspy.[1]
Rich left Preager's band in 1955, to give more time to his business interests, having a chain of retail shops. From 1957 he recorded many songs for Woolworths' Embassy Records, until the record label closed in 1965.[1]
In the 1960s he became involved in music publishing, and in 1967 became general manager of Carlin Music.[3] For ten years between 1966 and 1976 the company received the UK's Top Publisher Award from Music Week. The company dealt with leading American songwriters and with leading British performers; it was a successful sub-publisher of notable US performers and catalogues. Rich retired in 1996.[1]
Personal life
In 1952 at Bayswater Synagogue he married Marion White; they had a son, Clive, who became a barrister.[1][3] Paul Rich was a Freemason, initiated into Chelsea Lodge No. 3098 in January 1960; he was Worshipful Master in 1979 and 1999. He died in 2000, following a heart attack.[1]