ABNER, EWART

b. 11 May 1923; Chicago, IL

d. 27 December 1997; Los Angeles, CA

Record executive of the post-World War II era, heading at different times two of the biggest black-owned labels of all time, vee-Jay and Motown. With owner Art Sheridan, he first ran the Chance label (1950-1954) and then served as the general manager and part owner at vee-Jay beginning in 1955, running the company for founders vivian Carter and James Bracken. In 1961 he became president. Under his stewardship, vee-Jay (and its subsidiary label Abner) became a major independent by not only getting hits on such blues acts as Jimmy Reed and John Lee Hooker, but also such soul acts as Jerry Butler, Gene Chandler, Dee Clark, Betty Everett, and such rock 'n' roll acts as the Beatles and the Four Seasons. Abner owned and headed Constellation (1963-1966), and then joined Motown, where he served as its president from 1973 to 1975. Abner continued to work with Motown's Berry Gordy in various capacities until his death.

Bibliography

Pruter, Robert. Chicago Soul. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1991.