David Simmons
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| David Simmons | |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 April 1949 Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, England |
| 🏳️ Nationality | British |
| 💼 Occupation | Writer |
| Known for | One of the world’s leading independent music publishers |
| Twitter= | |
David Simmons born 4 April 1949 is a music publisher and has worked with many actors and musicians including, David Essex, Fleetwood Mac, Richard Harris, Terence Stamp and Elkie Brooks, Don Black, Michael Nyman, Bob Marley, John Denver, Motorhead, George Benson, Holly Johnson and Lionel Bart. Bob Marley tracks included I Shot the Sheriff.[citation needed] He also created Juice Mobile Entertainment Limited, a mobile content company. Working with the Mobile Entertainment Forum, he created the world’s first Mobile Ringtones Chart.[citation needed]
Education[edit]
David Simmons (born 4 April 1949) was educated at Minchenden Grammar School, North London. He was an all-round athlete which he continued into his adult life running two London Marathons.[citation needed]
He left school age 17 and went to Israel to live and work on Kibbutz Mahanayim, situated in the shadow of the Golan Heights.[citation needed]
When the final peace talks between the U.N, Syria and Israel at Mahanayim, broke down, he and other volunteers were responsible for kibbutz defence.[citation needed]
Early career[edit]
After the war [which war?] ended, he returned to England and started a career in Accountancy. On qualifying, became a partner in Harris Kafton & Co, a Mayfair firm of Chartered Accountants.[citation needed]
He built up an entertainment practice acting for actors and musicians including, David Essex, Fleetwood Mac, Richard Harris, Terence Stamp and Elkie Brooks.[citation needed]
Music career[edit]
In 1980 he left accountancy to form Leosong Copyright Service Bureau Limited in partnership with Walter Hofer, a leading New York based entertainment lawyer, whose clients included The Beatles, Dick James Music and Robert Stigwood.[citation needed]
Over the next five years he signed a number of writers/artists who had international hits. The Gap Band with Oops Upside Your Head, Phyllis Nelson with Move Closer and Muscle Shoals Music with Old Time Rock and Roll. This song was recorded by Bob Seger and was also the song featured in the film Risky Business which was the breakout film for Tom Cruise.[citation needed]
He built Leosong into a global administration company which he sold to Filmtrax Plc.[citation needed] In 1985 and took the position of director in charge of music publishing. Filmtrax raised $100m in investment and made numerous acquisitions including the music publishing division of Columbia Pictures. The company was sold to EMI Music in 1989.[citation needed]
David’s prime responsibility was the acquisition of Ivan Mogull Music[1] which gave them control of the Abba Catalogue for North America and a number of major titles including Misirlou, which featured in the Pulp Fiction soundtrack.
Subsequently, he created Juice Mobile Entertainment Limited, a mobile content company. Working with the Mobile Entertainment Forum, he created the world’s first Mobile Ringtones Chart.[2]<
As publisher, he has worked with many diverse artists and composers including Don Black, Michael Nyman, Bob Marley, John Denver, Motorhead, George Benson, Holly Johnson and Lionel Bart. Bob Marley tracks included I Shot the Sheriff. The Bob Marley Box Set, “Songs of Freedom” sold over 1m copies worldwide. Motorhead’s notorious “Killed By Death” album was released on his own GWR label. As music supervisor, he placed songs by George Benson, Holly Johnson, Boy George and Asia on the soundtrack of the $30m animated movie, Freddie as F.R.0.7 Michael Nyman compositions provided the soundtrack for a number of Peter Greenaway films including, The Cook, The Thief, The Wife and His Lover.[citation needed]
He has also published internationally known songs including, Against all Odds, recorded by Phil Collins as the title song to the film of the same name, The Greatest Love of All.
Throughout various career changes, David has remained active in specific commercial interests for 40 years:
- As a director of Songseekers International Limited, created and run by his wife, Ruth Simmons who is an acknowledged global expert on licensing music for TV commercials.
- Responsible for overseeing the financial affairs of Culture Club.
- Creating and running JAD Records, whose catalogue includes over 300 unique recordings of Bob Marley. This was with legendary manager, Danny Sims.[citation needed]
Theatre and Film[edit]
As a result of collaborations with songwriter, Geoff Morrow, two plays have been staged.
“OBITS”, a series of sketches based on obituaries. Featured characters included, Enid Blyton, Ernie Wise and Hitler.
The Boy who was Woody Allen[3] This has been adapted into a full scale musical comedy, Being Woody and is being produced by Michael Grade and Michael Linnit in 2017.
Little Man, a stage drama, produced by Adam Morley, based on the life of Meyer Lanksy, accountant to the Mob.
“Rebel”, a film, produced by Rudy L’Anglais,producer of “Hurricane” for which he has provided the story. He is a featured character and executive producer.
References[edit]
- ↑ "acquisition of Ivan Mogull Music". Billboard.
- ↑ "Mobile Ringtone Chart".
- ↑ "The Boy who was Woody Allen". 30 April 2014.
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