Listen to Godfather of the Music Business: Morris Levy (American Made Music) by Richard Carlin
Enjoy this audiobook with MP3 Audiobook Player - the ultimate iOS audiobook experience
This biography tells the story of one of the most notorious figures in the history of popular music, Morris Levy (1927-1990). At age nineteen, he cofounded the nightclub Birdland in Hell's Kitchen, which became the home for a new musical style, bebop. Levy operated one of the first integrated clubs on Broadway and helped build the careers of Dizzy Gillespie and Bud Powell and most notably aided the reemergence of Count Basie. In 1957, he founded a record label, Roulette Records. Roulette featured many of the significant jazz artists who played Birdland but also scored top pop hits with acts like Buddy Knox, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, Joey Dee and the Starliters, and, in the mid-1960s, Tommy James.Stories abound of Levy threatening artists, songwriters, and producers, sometimes just for the sport, other times so he could continue to build his empire. Along the way, Levy attracted "investors" with ties to the Mafia, including Dominic Ciaffone (a.k.a. "Swats" Mulligan), Tommy Eboli, and the most notorious of them all, Vincent Gigante. Gigante allegedly owned large pieces of Levy's recording and retail businesses.Starting in the late 1950s, the FBI and IRS investigated Levy but could not make anything stick until the early 1980s, when Levy foolishly got involved in a deal to sell remaindered records to a small-time reseller, John LaMonte. With partners in the mob, Levy tried to force LaMonte to pay for four million remaindered records. When the FBI secretly wiretapped LaMonte in an unrelated investigation and agents learned about the deal, investigators successfully prosecuted Levy in the extortion scheme. Convicted in 1988, Levy did not live to serve prison time. Stricken with cancer, he died just as his last appeals were exhausted. However, even if he had lived, Levy's brand of storied high life was effectively bust. Corporate ownership of record labels doomed most independents in the business, ending the days when a savvy if ruthless hustler could blaze a path to the top.
I've fallen in love with genres I never thought I'd explore, all thanks to this app. This audiobook app is a true gem – it brings stories to life with every click.
I can now explore books beyond my preferred genre, broadening my reading horizons. This app has become my go-to companion, making my daily routine more exciting and insightful. The ability to download audiobooks directly is fantastic. ListenBook is very convenient. Highly engaging! The combination of a well-written story and skilled narration made this audiobook hard to pause. I finished it much faster than I expected because I just couldn’t stop listening. The narrator's voice was like butter - smooth, rich, and utterly pleasant to listen to for hours. They handled complex sentences with ease, making even dense material accessible. I never had to rewind because I missed something due to unclear delivery. Perfection!
Say goodbye to boring commutes – this app's immersive audio experience and intuitive controls have transformed my daily journeys. 🌟📚 Book groups help me keep series together and navigate my collection more efficiently. A great feature!
🎶 Swapping background music for the soothing voices of narrators – audiobooks have become my soundtrack for daily life. 🎵📚 Binaural audio processing really helps reduce fatigue.
The ability to switch between devices seamlessly is a game-changer for busy readers. The narrator's voices are so engaging, it's like having a personal storytelling session. ListenBook's drag and drop downloads from web browsers are a time-saving feature I can't live without. I love how ListenBook caters to various formats, making it versatile and accommodating for all my audiobooks. This app has turned my cooking sessions into culinary adventures with a side of stories.
This app has reignited my love for literature and made it a part of my everyday life. The adjustable playback speed feature is a true innovation. It adds a personalized touch to my listening. ListenBook’s playback is smooth and reliable. I never have issues with audio quality. The app is so user-friendly. Even my grandma can use it! Great for fans of this genre! The pacing, narration, and production quality were all excellent. It felt like a movie playing in my mind. I’ll be checking out more from this narrator for sure.
Plays MP3, MP4, OPUS, OGG, FLAC, AWB, M4B, M4A, WMA, AAC formats
Optimized for iPhone, iPad, and iPod with seamless integration
Adjust playback speed from 0.5x to 3.0x for your listening preference
Import audiobooks via iTunes, cloud services, or direct downloads
Get your favorite audiobooks in supported formats from various sources
Import audiobooks to MP3 Audiobook Player using multiple methods
Control playback from your device, headphones, Apple Watch, or CarPlay
Join thousands of users who enjoy audiobooks with MP3 Audiobook Player daily
Download Now