David Libert
Encyclopedia
David Libert is an American music executive and musician. He was one of the founding members of the 1960s musical group, The Happenings
. Hailing from Paterson, New Jersey
, The Happenings had several hit records including "See You in September" and a cover of "I Got Rhythm
" that was on the Billboard
Hot 100 Singles
charts for 14 weeks in 1967, and peaked at number 3.
Libert later left the group to join the Willard Alexander Agency as a booking agent. After a brief stint as road manager for Rare Earth
, Libert became tour manager for Alice Cooper
during Alice's most formidable years (1971–1975). Libert figured prominently in Bob Greene
's book about accompanying Cooper's band on 1973's Billion Dollar Babies
tour, Billion Dollar Baby
ISBN 0-689-10616-5.
In 1975, Libert migrated from New York
to Los Angeles
and in 1976, he opened the David Libert Agency which represented George Clinton
, Parliament/Funkadelic, Bootsy's Rubber Band and The Runaways
(Cherie Currie
, Lita Ford
). In the late 90s, Libert formed Available Entertainment with entertainment attorney Alan Oken. A personal management company, Available Entertainment went on to represent George Clinton
, Parliament/Funkadelic, Brian Auger
, Living Colour
, Vanilla Fudge
, Cactus, The Coryell Auger Sample Trio and Tomi Rae Brown. Libert also wrote hit songs for other artists including The Tokens
, The Chiffons
and Gerry & The Pacemakers
. His producing credits include co-producing The Happenings album, Piece of Mind, with fellow Happenings member Bobby Miranda, as well as producing on his own, Tomi Rae Brown and Eric Kellogg's Imaginary Band. Libert continues to reside in Los Angeles.
The Happenings
The Happenings were a pop music group that originated in the 1960s. The group's major hits were "See You In September" , which was originally recorded by the Tempos in 1959; a cover version of the George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin song, "I Got Rhythm" , updated for the nascent pop/rock era; and "Hare...
. Hailing from Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
, The Happenings had several hit records including "See You in September" and a cover of "I Got Rhythm
I Got Rhythm
"I Got Rhythm" is a song composed by George Gershwin with lyrics by Ira Gershwin and published in 1930, which became a jazz standard. Its chord progression, known as the "rhythm changes", is the foundation for many other popular jazz tunes such as Charlie Parker's and Dizzy Gillespie's Bebop...
" that was on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot 100 Singles
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
charts for 14 weeks in 1967, and peaked at number 3.
Libert later left the group to join the Willard Alexander Agency as a booking agent. After a brief stint as road manager for Rare Earth
Rare Earth (band)
Rare Earth is an American rock band affiliated with Motown's Rare Earth record label , who prospered in 1970-1972. Although not the first white band signed to Motown, Rare Earth was the first big hit-making act signed by Motown that consisted only of white members...
, Libert became tour manager for Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
during Alice's most formidable years (1971–1975). Libert figured prominently in Bob Greene
Bob Greene
Robert Bernard Greene, Jr. is an American journalist. He worked for 24 years for the Chicago Tribune newspaper, where he was an award-winning columnist. Greene has written books on subjects varying from Michael Jordan, to small towns, to U.S. presidents. His Hang Time: Days and Dreams with Michael...
's book about accompanying Cooper's band on 1973's Billion Dollar Babies
Billion Dollar Babies
Billion Dollar Babies is the sixth studio album by American hard rock band Alice Cooper, released in 1973. The album became the best selling Alice Cooper record at the time of its release, hit number one on the album charts in both the United States and the United Kingdom, and went on to be...
tour, Billion Dollar Baby
Bob Greene
Robert Bernard Greene, Jr. is an American journalist. He worked for 24 years for the Chicago Tribune newspaper, where he was an award-winning columnist. Greene has written books on subjects varying from Michael Jordan, to small towns, to U.S. presidents. His Hang Time: Days and Dreams with Michael...
ISBN 0-689-10616-5.
In 1975, Libert migrated from New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and in 1976, he opened the David Libert Agency which represented George Clinton
George Clinton (funk musician)
George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost...
, Parliament/Funkadelic, Bootsy's Rubber Band and The Runaways
The Runaways
The Runaways were an American all-girl rock band that recorded and performed in the second half of the 1970s. The band released four studio albums and one live set during its run. Among its best known songs: "Cherry Bomb", "Queens of Noise", "Neon Angels On the Road to Ruin", "California Paradise"...
(Cherie Currie
Cherie Currie
Cherie Currie is an American singer, actress and chainsaw artist. Currie was the lead vocalist of The Runaways, a hard rock band from Los Angeles in the mid-to-late 1970s.-Life and career:...
, Lita Ford
Lita Ford
Lita Ford is a British-born, American rock musician and singer who was the lead guitarist for The Runaways and achieved popularity for her solo career between the 1980s and late 2000s.-Early life:...
). In the late 90s, Libert formed Available Entertainment with entertainment attorney Alan Oken. A personal management company, Available Entertainment went on to represent George Clinton
George Clinton (funk musician)
George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost...
, Parliament/Funkadelic, Brian Auger
Brian Auger
Brian Auger is a jazz and rock keyboardist, who has specialized in playing the Hammond organ.A jazz pianist, bandleader, session musician and Hammond B3 player, Auger has played or toured with artists such as Rod Stewart, Tony Williams, Jimi Hendrix, Sonny Boy Williamson, Led Zeppelin, Eric Burdon...
, Living Colour
Living Colour
Living Colour is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 1984. Stylistically, the band's music is a creative fusion influenced by free jazz, funk, neo-psychedelia, hard rock, and heavy metal...
, Vanilla Fudge
Vanilla Fudge
Vanilla Fudge is an American rock band. The band's original lineup – vocalist/organist Mark Stein, bassist/vocalist Tim Bogert, lead guitarist/vocalist Vince Martell, and drummer/vocalist Carmine Appice – recorded five albums during the years 1966–69, before disbanding in 1970...
, Cactus, The Coryell Auger Sample Trio and Tomi Rae Brown. Libert also wrote hit songs for other artists including The Tokens
The Tokens
The Tokens are an American male doo-wop-style vocal group from Brooklyn, New York. They are known best for their chart-scoring 1961 single, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" .-Career:...
, The Chiffons
The Chiffons
The Chiffons was an all girl group originating from the Bronx area of New York in 1960.-Biography:The Chiffons were one of the top girl groups of the early 1960s...
and Gerry & The Pacemakers
Gerry & the Pacemakers
Gerry and the Pacemakers were a British beat music group prominent during the 1960s. In common with The Beatles, they came from Liverpool, were managed by Brian Epstein and recorded by George Martin. They are most remembered for being the first act to reach number one in the UK Singles Chart with...
. His producing credits include co-producing The Happenings album, Piece of Mind, with fellow Happenings member Bobby Miranda, as well as producing on his own, Tomi Rae Brown and Eric Kellogg's Imaginary Band. Libert continues to reside in Los Angeles.