(abstracted from article by Ken Alan) Kal Cohen was born in South Philadelphia. Before he embarked on his own prodigious career in the entertainment industry, Cohen traded his birth name for Kal Mann. Starting as a comedy writer for Danny Thomas and Red Buttons, Mann established Cameo-Parkway records in 1956 with co-producers Bernie Lowe and Dave Appell. His first taste of success came a year later, when he co-wrote the Charlie Gracie hit “Butterfly.” Mann also helped author “Teddy Bear” for Elvis Presley, Bobby Rydell’s “Wild One” and the Dovells’ “The Bristol Stomp.” Mann also co-wrote 1963’s “South Street” by the Orlons. It’s opening query, “Where do all the hippies meet?” would help make “hippie” a household term a few years later. With American Bandstand’s move from Philadelphia to Los Angeles in 1964 and the success of the Beatles, the hits evaporated for Cameo-Parkway. By early 1964, Mann had sold his interests in the company.
Posted on: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 00:55:53 +0000
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