Ron Kass
Encyclopedia
Ron Kass was an American
businessman, recording executive, and film producer
.
, his family changed the name to Kass when they moved to California. Kass worked with at least four recording companies: {Liberty} MGM, Warner Brothers, and Apple Records
. He attended Fairfax High School
where he played in a band that became Tijuana Brass and then got a degree in accounting from UCLA.
Ron married his UCLA sweetheart, Anita, and started working for Liberty Records which was directly across from Hollywood High School
. They had their first son David and then, promoted to overseas manager and eventually president of Liberty, moved to London while settling his family in Lugano, Switzerland, where they had two more sons, Roberto and Jonathan . Ron started working for Apple Records and divorced Anita who remained in Lugano with their children who later moved to the US as adults.
While heading Apple Records, the label set up by The Beatles
, in 1968 and 1969. He was effectively forced from his position at Apple by the Beatles' new manager Allen Klein after he was falsely accused of "financial impropriety." His producing credits included Melody
(1971), The Optimists (1973) starring Peter Sellers
, Naked Yoga
(1974) nominated for an Oscar
for Best Documentary Short Subject, The Stud (1978) and The Bitch
(1979) both based on novels by Jackie Collins
and starring her sister Joan Collins
.
In 1972 Kass married Joan Collins. They had a daughter, Katyana ("Katie"), born in 1972. Kass and Collins were divorced in 1983 but reportedly remained close. Collins provided for Kass's medical care during his battle with terminal cancer in addition to flying his sons from Switzerland to visit with their father. He died from cancer in Los Angeles
, California
at the age of 51 with Collins at his bedside.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman, recording executive, and film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
.
Biography
Born Ronald Stanley Kashinoff in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, his family changed the name to Kass when they moved to California. Kass worked with at least four recording companies: {Liberty} MGM, Warner Brothers, and Apple Records
Apple Records
Apple Records is a record label founded by The Beatles in 1968, as a division of Apple Corps Ltd. It was initially intended as a creative outlet for the Beatles, both as a group and individually, plus a selection of other artists including Mary Hopkin, James Taylor, Badfinger, and Billy Preston...
. He attended Fairfax High School
Fairfax High School (Los Angeles)
Fairfax High School is a Los Angeles Unified School District high school located in Los Angeles, USA, near the border of West Hollywood in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles...
where he played in a band that became Tijuana Brass and then got a degree in accounting from UCLA.
Ron married his UCLA sweetheart, Anita, and started working for Liberty Records which was directly across from Hollywood High School
Hollywood High School
Hollywood High School is a Los Angeles Unified School District high school located at the intersection of North Highland Avenue and West Sunset Boulevard in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California.-History:...
. They had their first son David and then, promoted to overseas manager and eventually president of Liberty, moved to London while settling his family in Lugano, Switzerland, where they had two more sons, Roberto and Jonathan . Ron started working for Apple Records and divorced Anita who remained in Lugano with their children who later moved to the US as adults.
While heading Apple Records, the label set up by The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, in 1968 and 1969. He was effectively forced from his position at Apple by the Beatles' new manager Allen Klein after he was falsely accused of "financial impropriety." His producing credits included Melody
Melody (1971 film)
Melody is a 1971 British film directed by Waris Hussein about "puppy love". It was released as S.W.A.L.K. in the United Kingdom . The film starred Jack Wild, Mark Lester and Tracy Hyde...
(1971), The Optimists (1973) starring Peter Sellers
Peter Sellers
Richard Henry Sellers, CBE , known as Peter Sellers, was a British comedian and actor. Perhaps best known as Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther film series, he is also notable for playing three different characters in Dr...
, Naked Yoga
Naked Yoga (film)
Naked Yoga is a short documentary released in 1974 and illustrates the practice of yoga in a natural setting and in the nude. The plot of this movie includes women practicing yoga in Cyprus and in a studio. These visuals are interspersed with images of Eastern art, processed for "psychedelic"...
(1974) nominated for an Oscar
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
for Best Documentary Short Subject, The Stud (1978) and The Bitch
The Bitch (film)
The Bitch is a British film released in 1979. It is a sequel to The Stud , and both films were based on novels by British author Jackie Collins. Like its predecessor, the film starred her sister, Joan Collins, as Fontaine Khaled.-Plot:...
(1979) both based on novels by Jackie Collins
Jackie Collins
Jacqueline Jill "Jackie" Collins is an English novelist and former actress. She is the younger sister of actress Joan Collins. She has written 28 novels, all of which have appeared on the New York Times bestsellers list. In total, her books have sold over 400 million copies and have been...
and starring her sister Joan Collins
Joan Collins
Joan Henrietta Collins, OBE , is an English actress, author, and columnist. Born in Paddington and raised in Maida Vale, Collins grew up during the Second World War. At the age of nine, she made her stage debut in A Doll's House and after attending school, she was classically trained as an actress...
.
In 1972 Kass married Joan Collins. They had a daughter, Katyana ("Katie"), born in 1972. Kass and Collins were divorced in 1983 but reportedly remained close. Collins provided for Kass's medical care during his battle with terminal cancer in addition to flying his sons from Switzerland to visit with their father. He died from cancer in 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...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
at the age of 51 with Collins at his bedside.