Paul Cohen (producer)
Encyclopedia
Paul Cohen was an American
country music
producer
.
One of the men chiefly responsible for Nashville’s emergence as the country music recording capital and the Nashville Sound
was Chicago-born Paul Cohen, long-time Decca Records
executive. As President of the Country Music Association
(CMA), Cohen was on hand when the Country Music Hall of Fame opened in 1967.
Cohen first entered the record business with Columbia
in the late 1920s, but in 1934 joined Decca’s newly formed American operation, organized by two brothers, Jack and Dave Kapp—old Chicago friends of his. Cohen moved to Cincinnati to become Decca’s midwestern branch manager in 1935; in this role he was responsible for scouting, producing and signing new talent in addition to marketing records. During World War II, he gradually took over Decca’s hillbilly production work from Dave Kapp, and in the mid-1940s moved to New York to head that branch of the company.
With two of Decca's main country stars based on Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry
—Ernest Tubb
and Red Foley
. In August 1947,Cohen began regular recording of his country roster in Castle Recording’s new studios, located in the Tulane Hotel at Eighth Avenue North and Church Street in Nashville. Musicians Beasley Smith
and Owen Bradley
helped Cohen schedule his intensive, two-to-three-week Nashville visits by lining up stars, musicians, and arrangements (many of them created on the spot). Cohen is remembered for an energetic production style—as much cheerleader as executive—and a knack for spotting new artists and matching them with songs (often published by his own publishing companies). Kitty Wells
, Webb Pierce
, Brenda Lee
, Patsy Cline
, and Bobby Helms
were among the new acts signed and produce by Cohen during his tenure, while Tubb, Foley, Jimmie Davis, and others continued to have success with the label.
Cohen left Decca’s country department early in 1958 (replaced by Owen Bradley
some weeks later), first to do pop production for Decca’s Coral subsidiary. Soon Cohen launched his own company, Todd Records, and besides signing such country acts as Pee Wee King
and Dub Dickerson, the label enjoyed a pop hit, Joe Henderson
's “Snap Your Fingers.” In 1964 Cohen rejoined his old boss Dave Kapp as head of Kapp Records
’ country division in Nashville. In four years at Kapp, Cohen signed and produced Hugh X. Lewis
, Cal Smith
, Billy Edd Wheeler
, and Mel Tillis
, among others. Cohen’s last major executive position was as head of ABC’s Nashville office (1968–1969), which he left after contracting cancer.
He died in Bryan, Texas, on April 1, 1970, and was buried in nearby College Station, Texas
. In an unprecedented gesture, Nashville’s Music Row
offices closed for a memorial service a week later (April 7), but the lasting testimony to his memory and importance came with his posthumous election to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1976.
Adapted from the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s Encyclopedia of Country Music, published by Oxford University Press.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
.
One of the men chiefly responsible for Nashville’s emergence as the country music recording capital and the Nashville Sound
Nashville sound
The Nashville sound originated during the late 1950s as a sub-genre of American country music, replacing the chart dominance of honky tonk music which was most popular in the 1940s and 1950s...
was Chicago-born Paul Cohen, long-time Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
executive. As President of the Country Music Association
Country Music Association
The Country Music Association was founded in 1958 in Nashville, Tennessee. It originally consisted of only 233 members and was the first trade organization formed to promote a music genre...
(CMA), Cohen was on hand when the Country Music Hall of Fame opened in 1967.
Cohen first entered the record business with Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
in the late 1920s, but in 1934 joined Decca’s newly formed American operation, organized by two brothers, Jack and Dave Kapp—old Chicago friends of his. Cohen moved to Cincinnati to become Decca’s midwestern branch manager in 1935; in this role he was responsible for scouting, producing and signing new talent in addition to marketing records. During World War II, he gradually took over Decca’s hillbilly production work from Dave Kapp, and in the mid-1940s moved to New York to head that branch of the company.
With two of Decca's main country stars based on Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry
Grand Ole Opry
The Grand Ole Opry is a weekly country music stage concert in Nashville, Tennessee, that has presented the biggest stars of that genre since 1925. It is also among the longest-running broadcasts in history since its beginnings as a one-hour radio "barn dance" on WSM-AM...
—Ernest Tubb
Ernest Tubb
Ernest Dale Tubb , nicknamed the Texas Troubadour, was an American singer and songwriter and one of the pioneers of country music. His biggest career hit song, "Walking the Floor Over You" , marked the rise of the honky tonk style of music...
and Red Foley
Red Foley
Clyde Julian Foley , better known as Red Foley, was an American singer, musician, and radio and TV personality who made a major contribution to the growth of country music after World War II....
. In August 1947,Cohen began regular recording of his country roster in Castle Recording’s new studios, located in the Tulane Hotel at Eighth Avenue North and Church Street in Nashville. Musicians Beasley Smith
Beasley Smith
John Beasley Smith was an American composer. That Lucky Old Sun, one of his better known works, was covered by many well-known artists. He often worked with Haven Gillespie....
and Owen Bradley
Owen Bradley
Owen Bradley was an American record producer who, along with Chet Atkins and Bob Ferguson, was one of the chief architects of the 1950s and 1960s Nashville sound in country music and rockabilly.-Before the fame:...
helped Cohen schedule his intensive, two-to-three-week Nashville visits by lining up stars, musicians, and arrangements (many of them created on the spot). Cohen is remembered for an energetic production style—as much cheerleader as executive—and a knack for spotting new artists and matching them with songs (often published by his own publishing companies). Kitty Wells
Kitty Wells
Ellen Muriel Deason , known professionally as Kitty Wells, is an American country music singer. Her 1952 hit recording, "It Wasn't God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels", made her the first female country singer to top the U.S. country charts, and turned her into the first female country star...
, Webb Pierce
Webb Pierce
Webb Michael Pierce was one of the most popular American honky tonk vocalists of the 1950s, charting more number one hits than any other country artist during the decade. His biggest hit was "In The Jailhouse Now," which charted for 37 weeks in 1955, 21 of them at number one...
, Brenda Lee
Brenda Lee
Brenda Mae Tarpley , known as Brenda Lee, is an American performer who sang rockabilly, pop and country music, and had 37 US chart hits during the 1960s, a number surpassed only by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Ray Charles and Connie Francis...
, Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline
Patsy Cline , born Virginia Patterson Hensley in Gore, Virginia, was an American country music singer who enjoyed pop music crossover success during the era of the Nashville sound in the early 1960s...
, and Bobby Helms
Bobby Helms
Robert Lee Helms , better known as Bobby Helms, was an American country music singer who enjoyed his peak success in 1957 with his hit, "Jingle Bell Rock". He was mostly known for the Christmas song...
were among the new acts signed and produce by Cohen during his tenure, while Tubb, Foley, Jimmie Davis, and others continued to have success with the label.
Cohen left Decca’s country department early in 1958 (replaced by Owen Bradley
Owen Bradley
Owen Bradley was an American record producer who, along with Chet Atkins and Bob Ferguson, was one of the chief architects of the 1950s and 1960s Nashville sound in country music and rockabilly.-Before the fame:...
some weeks later), first to do pop production for Decca’s Coral subsidiary. Soon Cohen launched his own company, Todd Records, and besides signing such country acts as Pee Wee King
Pee Wee King
Julius Frank Anthony Kuczynski , known professionally as Pee Wee King, was an American country music songwriter and recording artist best known for co-writing "The Tennessee Waltz"....
and Dub Dickerson, the label enjoyed a pop hit, Joe Henderson
Joe Henderson (gospel singer)
Joe Henderson was an R&B and gospel singer, best known for his recording of 1962's "Snap Your Fingers". Joe Henderson was born in Como, Mississippi, and raised in Gary, Indiana. After working in gospel music, Hemderson signed with Todd Records in 1958. In 1962, he recorded "Snap Your Fingers"...
's “Snap Your Fingers.” In 1964 Cohen rejoined his old boss Dave Kapp as head of Kapp Records
Kapp Records
Kapp Records was an independent record label started in 1954 by David Kapp, brother of Jack Kapp . David Kapp founded his own label after stints with Decca Records and RCA Victor Records. Kapp licensed its records to London Records for release in the UK.In 1967, David Kapp sold his label to MCA Inc...
’ country division in Nashville. In four years at Kapp, Cohen signed and produced Hugh X. Lewis
Hugh X. Lewis
Hubert Brad Lewis , known professionally as Hugh X. Lewis, is an American country music singer. He recorded between 1964 and 1979 for various labels, and charted fifteen singles on the Hot Country Songs charts. Lewis's debut single, "What I Need Most", peaked at number 21 on this chart...
, Cal Smith
Cal Smith
Calvin Grant Shofner , known professionally as Cal Smith, is an American country musician, most famous for his 1974 hit "Country Bumpkin."-Career:...
, Billy Edd Wheeler
Billy Edd Wheeler
Billy Edward "Edd" Wheeler is an American songwriter, performer, writer and visual artist. He has written songs performed by over 90 different artists including Judy Collins, Jefferson Airplane, Bobby Darin, The Kingston Trio, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Kenny Rogers, Hazel Dickens, and Elvis Presley...
, and Mel Tillis
Mel Tillis
Lonnie Melvin Tillis , known professionally as Mel Tillis, is an American country music singer. Although he recorded songs since the late 1950s, his biggest success occurred in the 1970s, with a long list of Top 10 hits....
, among others. Cohen’s last major executive position was as head of ABC’s Nashville office (1968–1969), which he left after contracting cancer.
He died in Bryan, Texas, on April 1, 1970, and was buried in nearby College Station, Texas
College Station, Texas
College Station is a city in Brazos County, Texas, situated in East Central Texas in the heart of the Brazos Valley. The city is located within the most populated region of Texas, near three of the 10 largest cities in the United States - Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio...
. In an unprecedented gesture, Nashville’s Music Row
Music Row
Music Row is an area just to the southwest of Downtown Nashville, Tennessee that is home to hundreds of businesses related to the country music, gospel music, and Contemporary Christian music industries...
offices closed for a memorial service a week later (April 7), but the lasting testimony to his memory and importance came with his posthumous election to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1976.
Adapted from the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum’s Encyclopedia of Country Music, published by Oxford University Press.