Legendary A&R Exec John Kalodner To Retire
June 19, 2006, 18 years ago
According to Melinda Newman from Billboard, A&R; executive John Kalodner is retiring after 35 years in the music business, effective June 20. Kalodner, whose tenure spanned posts at Atlantic, Geffen, Columbia and, most recently, Sanctuary, was legendary for discovering, signing and working with a wide array of artists, and for his signature style—trademark JOHN LENNON glasses, long hair and beard and always wearing white.
After a stint as a music writer for the Philadelphia Bulletin, he joined Atlantic's publicity department in 1974, but quickly moved to the A&R; department the next year. Among his first signings was Foreigner.
While at Geffen, Kalodner is credited with reviving AEROSMITH and CHER's careers. Among the many other acts he worked with are GENESIS, PHIL COLLINS, YES, AC/DC, SANTANA, BON JOVI, XTC, YES, PETER GABRIEL, WHITESNAKE and countless others.
Kalodner exclusively tells Billboard.biz there are no immediate future plans. "I didn't want to announce the formation of a management company or a publishing company, just that I want to retire from the business I loved."
