Tom Takayoshi

Tom Takayoshi was a record label founder as well as a president of a major United States record label. His involvement in the music industry goes back to the early 1960s.

Tom Takayoshi
Occupation(s)Record producer, Record executive
Years active1960s - 2000s
LabelsCapitol Records
Playboy Records
Hilltak Records

Background

Abkco Records

At some time, possibly the early 1970s Takayoshi was an executive for Abkco Records.[1]

Capitol Records

In the early 1960s Takayoshi was operations manager for the Detroit branch of Capitol Records. In 1963 he was involved in a prank on radio station DJs in Detroit and Windsor. To promote the song "Sukiyaki" by Kyu Sakamoto. Takayoshi put on a Japanese costume, posing as Mio Takayoshi, pretending to be a long time friend of the singer. He toured the radio stations thanking the DJs for their help in promoting the song while pretending not to understand or speak English. In addition to Takayoshi, the hoax was co-engineered by men from the Capitol Records branch, sales manager Jim Blackwood, district sales manager Tom Gelardi and regional promotion man Art Hill.[2] In 1969 he won the district sales award for his work in Detroit with Larry Menetre of Atlanta getting the other one and Marvin Beisel of the West Coast getting the first division plaque. In the same year, he was named director of independent labels at Capitol. His role was to head a team of seven men to handle promotions for independent labels. The labels he was to oversee were Apple, Zapple, 1-2-3, Harvest, Hand, Colossal, Tower, Crazy Horse, Burdette, Showtown and Uptown.[3]

He stayed with the label for 13 years.[4]

Apple Records

In the early 1970s he was a promotion man for Apple Records.[5] He stayed with the Apple label for around two years.[6]

Playboy Records

He then joined Playboy Records. In early 1973, he was named marketing director of sales and promotion.[7] Around 1974, he was executive vice-president for Playboy Records. While in that role he signed country singer Eddie Weaver to the label.[8] In the mid 1970s the label had lost four million dollars, Takayoshi was given the power to run the label and there was an expectation to see a profit in sales. There was a desire to make it a major label for r&b acts.[9] He was the man in charge of the label and the third man in that position in three years. Under his stewardship, the label did well with country artist Mickey Gilley.[10] In 1976, it was mentioned in the Radio Quarterly Report, Vol II July 1 - Sept. 30 edition that to date, Playboys biggest successes were Barbie Benton, Al Wilson, Weapons of Peace, Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds and Mickey Gilley. Takayoshi, since taking over had turned the company around by being more selective and causing it to change direction.[11] In 1977 it was announced in the March 19 edition of Billboard Magazine that Takayoshi, after being with the label for four years was made president.[12] In 1978, Playboy Records folded.[13]

Along with Albert Tribble, Larry Brownlee, Lowrell Simon and Willie Henderson he is credited as a co-composer for Henderson's single "Gangster Boogie Bump" which peaked at #50 on the US r&b charts in 1974.[14][15]

Hilltak Records

Towards the late 1970s Takayoshi along with Hillery Johnson co founded Hilltak Records. The name Hilltak was a combination of their names.[16][17] It was registered June 16, 1978 in California.[18] The Hilltak label was a subsidiary of Atlantic Records.[19] It's catalogue had a leaning towards the disco genre.[20] Some of the artists that had their work released on the label were Patti Hendrix, The Guess Who, Dalton and Dubarri and Ninth Creation.[21] In September 1979 the label had shifted from Atlantic Records to use a network of nine independent distributors which included California Records in L.A. and Big State in Dallas.[22]

By 1980, Takayoshi was working as general manager for Sound Music Sales in Los Angeles.[23]

References
  1. Billboard 6 Jul 1974 Page 4 General News Executive Turntable
  2. Billboard 25 May 1963 Page 28 MUSIC AS WRITTEN DETROIT
  3. Billboard November 22, 1969 Talent LOS ANGELES
  4. Billboard 20 Jan 1973 Page 49 General News Executive Turntable
  5. Billboard 18 Dec 1971 Page 22 Houston Radio Irate Over Apple Exclusive to LILT
  6. Billboard 20 Jan 1973 Page 49 General News Executive Turntable
  7. Billboard 20 Jan 1973 Page 49 General News Executive Turntable
  8. Billboard 24 Aug 1974 Page 40 Country Nashville Scene By Bill Williams
  9. Billboard 15 Nov 1975 Page 45 Soul PLAYBOY'S R&B Label Moves Into New Field With Local Promo Strategies
  10. Billboard 26 Dec 1974 Page 4 Talent In Action Top Seller Trend: Softer, more Sophisticated Productions by Nat Freedland
  11. Radio Quarterly Report `76 July 1 - Sept. 30 Vol II Page 203, 204
  12. Billboard 19 Mar 1977 Page 4 General News Executive Turntable
  13. All Music Guide to Country: The Definitive Guide to Country Music By Vladimir Bogdanov, Chris Woodstra, Stephen Thomas Erlewine Page 281 All Music Guide to Country MICKEY GILLEY
  14. Discogs Willie Henderson – Gangster Boogie Bump
  15. Music VF Gangsta Boogie Bump By: Willie Henderson
  16. Billboard 10 Mar 1979 Page 93 General News Record Companies Rushing To Open Disco Divisions HILLTAK
  17. Seventies Sevens HILLTAK
  18. California Corporates HILLTAK RECORDS, INC.
  19. Billboard 20 Sep 1980 Page 28 Counterpoint Demo Bags Binder For Singing Duo By Jean Williams
  20. Soul Express THE MANHATTANS – part 4 (1980 – 1989) “SHINING STAR” SWEET TALK
  21. Global Dog Productions 45 Discography for Hilltak Records
  22. Billboard 8 Sep 1979 General News NEW DISTRIBS FOR HILLTAK
  23. Billboard May 24, 1980 Page 4 General News Executive Turntable Marketing
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