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The Producers: Fred Mendelsohn

The Producers
6/6/2011
7:00 am

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Filed Under: Donna Fargo, Andrew Hill, Annie Laurie, Big Maybelle, Blues Candy and Big Maybelle, Don't Be Angry, Donna Fargo, Fred Mendelsohn, Herald Records, Larry Darnell, Paul Bley, Paul Gayten, Regent Records, Ring Dang Dilly, Rose Marie McCoy, Savoy Records, That's A Pretty Good Love

Donna Fargo Performing Fred Mendelsohn's "Don't Be Angry" (YouTube)

Considered a pioneer in the field of rhythm and blues, Fred Mendelsohn was a songwriter and label executive as well as a producer.

Born in 1917, Mendelsohn grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, a fan of the blues and early R&B. His initial venture into the music business was the New Jersey-based Regent label that released records by artists like Annie Laurie and Paul Gayten. As was standard operating procedure for many Northern Soul labels, Mendelsohn frequented the southern states of the US, scouting out artists like Larry Darnell.

A second venture, Herald Records was to follow along with time spent partnered with Savoy Records. As a producer, Mendelsohn oversaw some of the great records of early rhythm and blues and ’60s-era jazz: Big Maybelle‘s 1958 set, Blues, Candy and Big Maybelle along with albums by jazzers Paul Bley and Andrew Hill.

As a songwriter, he contributed to the creation of Rose Marie McCoy‘s 1955 hit, “Don’t Be Angry,” since covered by many artists including Donna Fargo, as well as the Big Maybelle cuts “Ring Dang Dilly” and “That’s a Pretty Good Love.”