Michael Gershman
Encyclopedia
Michael Gershman was a writer, publicist, and music producer.
After graduating from Brown University
, Gershman worked briefly as a newspaper reporter before joining the Dorothy Ross Agency in New York
. There, he served as a press agent
for comedians Woody Allen
, Dick Cavett
, and Joan Rivers
. In the late 1960s, Gershman moved to California to focus on clients in the music business. Among his clients were the Doors
, Jefferson Airplane
, Neil Diamond
, Elton John
, and James Taylor
. He left the business to manage and produce the band Looking Glass
. Among the songs he worked on was the 1972 single Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)
, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100
chart.
Gershman would later return to work as a publicist
for Rogers, Cowan, and Brenner, representing musicians like Mel Torme
and Lionel Richie
. He moved back to the east coast in the 1980s and became a prolific baseball
writer. authoring 16 books on the subject. His 1993 book "Diamonds: The Evolution of the Ballpark." received the CASEY Award
.
With John Thorn, he formed the book packaging company called Baseball Ink, and produced the groundbreaking reference work "Total Baseball", which would eventually become the official encyclopedia of Major League Baseball
. Thorn and Gershman went on to found Total Sports Publishing
.
Gershman was born in Brooklyn, NY and died at his home in Westport, CT after a short battle with lung cancer. His widow, Suzy Gershman is a journalist and the author of the "Born to Shop" book series.http://suzygershman.com/ The couple was married in 1975. Their son is singer/songwriter Aaron Spacemuseum.http://cdbaby.com/cd/spacemuseum
After graduating from Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, Gershman worked briefly as a newspaper reporter before joining the Dorothy Ross Agency in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. There, he served as a press agent
Press agent
A press agent, or flack, is a professional publicist who acts on behalf of his or her client on all matters involving public relations. Press agents are typically employed by public personalities and organizations such as performers and businesses...
for comedians Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
, Dick Cavett
Dick Cavett
Richard Alva "Dick" Cavett is a former American television talk show host known for his conversational style and in-depth discussion of issues...
, and Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers
Joan Rivers is an American comedian, television personality and actress. She is known for her brash manner; her loud, raspy voice with a heavy New York accent; and her numerous cosmetic surgeries...
. In the late 1960s, Gershman moved to California to focus on clients in the music business. Among his clients were the Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
, Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane
Jefferson Airplane was an American rock band formed in San Francisco in 1965. A pioneer of the psychedelic rock movement, Jefferson Airplane was the first band from the San Francisco scene to achieve mainstream commercial and critical success....
, Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond
Neil Leslie Diamond is an American singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades from the 1960s until the present....
, Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, and James Taylor
James Taylor
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
. He left the business to manage and produce the band Looking Glass
Looking Glass (band)
Looking Glass was an American pop music group of the early 1970s that was part of the Jersey Shore sound. They are best remembered for their million selling 1972 song, "Brandy ".-Career:...
. Among the songs he worked on was the 1972 single Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)
Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)
"Brandy " is a 1972 pop song written and composed by Elliot Lurie and recorded by Lurie's band, Looking Glass, on their debut album Looking Glass. The single reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, remaining in the top position for one week. Horns and strings were arranged by Larry Fallon...
, which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100
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...
chart.
Gershman would later return to work as a publicist
Publicist
A publicist is a person whose job is to generate and manage publicity for a public figure, especially a celebrity, a business, or for a work such as a book, film or album...
for Rogers, Cowan, and Brenner, representing musicians like Mel Torme
Mel Tormé
Melvin Howard Tormé , nicknamed The Velvet Fog, was an American musician, known for his jazz singing. He was also a jazz composer and arranger, a drummer, an actor in radio, film, and television, and the author of five books...
and Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie
Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Since 1968, he has been a member of the musical group Commodores signed to Motown Records...
. He moved back to the east coast in the 1980s and became a prolific baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
writer. authoring 16 books on the subject. His 1993 book "Diamonds: The Evolution of the Ballpark." received the CASEY Award
CASEY Award
The CASEY Award has been given to the best baseball book of the year since . The honor was begun by Mike Shannon and W.J. Harrison, editors and co-founders of “Spitball: The Literary Baseball Magazine.”-CASEY Award recipients:...
.
With John Thorn, he formed the book packaging company called Baseball Ink, and produced the groundbreaking reference work "Total Baseball", which would eventually become the official encyclopedia of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. Thorn and Gershman went on to found Total Sports Publishing
Total Sports Publishing
Total Sports Publishing refers to a book publishing company based in Kingston, New York, that operated from 1998 to 2002. Prominent author John Thorn served as the division's publisher throughout its existence.-Total Sports:...
.
Gershman was born in Brooklyn, NY and died at his home in Westport, CT after a short battle with lung cancer. His widow, Suzy Gershman is a journalist and the author of the "Born to Shop" book series.http://suzygershman.com/ The couple was married in 1975. Their son is singer/songwriter Aaron Spacemuseum.http://cdbaby.com/cd/spacemuseum
Further reading
- Light My Fire: My Life with the DoorsLight My Fire (book)Light My Fire is a memoir published in 1998 by The Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek. It contains valuable information about Jim Morrison, lead singer of The Doors. In the book Ray talks about his early life, UCLA, The Doors, and what happened to everyone after The Doors broke up.-Publication...
, by Ray ManzarekRay ManzarekRaymond Daniel Manzarek, Jr., better known as Ray Manzarek , is an American musician, singer, producer, film director, writer, co-founder and keyboardist of The Doors from 1965 to 1973, Nite City from 1977–1978 and Manzarek-Krieger since 2001.Manzarek is listed #4 on Digital Dreamdoor's "100...
, Berkeley Publishing Group, ISBN 0-425-17045-4 - No One Here Gets Out AliveNo One Here Gets Out AliveNo One Here Gets Out Alive was the first biography of Jim Morrison, lead singer and lyricist of the L.A. rock band The Doors, written after his death by journalist Jerry Hopkins, with later "insider" information added by Danny Sugerman. The book is largely credited with revitalizing the popularity...
, by Jerry Hopkins and Danny SugermanDanny SugermanDaniel Stephen "Danny" Sugerman was the second manager of the Los Angeles-based rock band The Doors, and wrote several books about Jim Morrison and The Doors, including No One Here Gets Out Alive , and the autobiography Wonderland Avenue...
, Warner Books, ISBN 0-446-60228-0