Mr Showbiz: The Biography of Robert Stigwood
- ISBN-10
- 1925324745
- ISBN-13
- 9781925324747
- Category
- Biography
- Pages
- 432
- Language
- English
- Published
- 2017-10-02
- Publisher
- Vintage
- Author
- Stephen Dando-Collins
Description
Born in Port Pirie, South Australia and moving to the UK in the 1950s where he soon established a theatrical agency, at the height of his success, in the 1970s, Robert Stigwood 'Stiggy' was the entertainment industry's most powerful tycoon. He came to renown managing the careers of the Bee Gees, Cream and Eric Clapton. He produced films including Gallipoli, Saturday Night Fever, Tommy and Grease. He was behind West End and Broadway musicals that were huge hits. Stigwood owned the record label that issued his artists' albums and film soundtracks, and he also controlled publishing rights. In addition to the many periods of success, there were also great crashes including an infamous Chuck Berry tour that failed to attract audiences and forced Stiggy to declare bankruptcy. In early 1966, Stigwood became the booking agent for the Who and also began managing the fledgling British group Cream, signing them to his record label Reaction, and their album was immediately successful. Stigwood's ability to pick and promote talent was astounding and he was also known for his many fallings-out. In 1967 the Australian group the Bee Gees arrived in the UK and Stigwood claimed that they were going to be as big as the Beatles. By April, the Bee Gees had their first top 20 hit, and by September their first UK no 1. Stigwood moved into theatre production and took Hair to London. After hearing a demo of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical Jesus Christ Superstar, Stigwood invested in the project. He oversaw the New York stage production and in 1973 produced the film adaptation. Stigwood continued to work with Lloyd Webber right up to the 1996 film of Evita. Stiggy got involved in making British television sitcoms and adapting them for US audiences. After watching John Travolta in Welcome Back Kotter, Stigwood signed him to a three-picture deal. After reading an article by British journalist Nik Cohn Stigwood developed it into the feature film Saturday Night Fever and asked the Bee Gees to write its music. The album soundtrack remains the biggest seller of its kind while the film proved a huge hit and helped make disco music an international phenomenon. Stigwood then produced the film of the musical Grease. Stigwood lived it up with private planes, yachts, a Central Park West penthouse and staff. The failure of the big-budget musical film of the Beatles' album Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band got to him and he sold his record label. Though his ability to create success had not left him entirely with musical productions and films benefitting from his involvement into the 1990s. For many years he lived a mostly reclusive life in an estate on the Isle of Wight though remained a part of the lives of the Gibb family.
Get the book
Other editions
Similar books
-
The Biography Book: A Reader's Guide to Nonfiction, Fictional, and Film Biographies of More Than 500 of the Most Fascinating...
By Daniel S. Burt... for the general reader . nology uphold Rooseveldt's New Deal legislation . ... Louis D. Todd , A.L. Justice on Trial : The Case of Louis D. Bertolt ...
-
People in History: N-Z
By Susan K. Kinnell... Michael Edward 3394 Bell , Millicent 3488 3489 Bell , Robert H. 2331 Bell , Susan N. 3684 Bell , Virginia 5284 Bell , Whitfield J. , Jr. 979 3195 3919 Bell , William Gardner 3500 Bellamy , Donnie D. 6899 Bellamy , Marjory 473 Belman ...
-
The Risks of Knowledge: Investigations Into the Death of the Hon. Minister John Robert Ouko in Kenya, 1990
By David William Cohen, E. S. Atieno OdhiamboMinister John Robert Ouko in Kenya, 1990 David William Cohen, E. S. Atieno Odhiambo. ed., Democracy and Difference: Contesting the Boundaries ... Ogot, Bethwell A., and William R. Ochieng, eds. Decolonization and Independence in Kenya.
-
Her Way: A Guide to Biographies of Women for Young People
By Mary-Ellen SiegelELLEN CRAFT c . 1826 – c.1897 Fugitive slave , abolitionist Light - skinned Ellen Craft and her husband escaped from slavery by travelling north in disguise . Ellen Craft dressed as a man and assumed the role of a deaf and ill white ...
-
Vasco Da Gama and the Sea Route to India
By William H. Goetzmann, Rachel A. Koestler-GrackThis Portuguese navigator's initial voyage to India in 1497-1499 opened up the sea route from Western Europe to the East by way of the Cape of Good Hope.
-
Newsmakers '07: Cumulation
By Laura Avery... W. James 2006 : 3 Mellinger , Frederick Obituary 1990 : 4 Mello , Dawn 1992 : 2 Melman , Richard Brief Entry 1986 ... Les 2004 : 2 Moreno , Arturo 2005 : 2 Morgan , Dodge 1987 : 1 Morita , Akio 1989 : 4 Morita , Akio Obituary 2000 ...
-
The Name's Familiar: Mr. Leotard, Barbie, and Chef Boyardee
By Lee, LauraPaulmier , Madeleine Madeleine Paulmier was a pastry cook in 19th century Comercy , France . She concocted a small shell - shaped cake that we know today as madeleines . Phillips , Charles Henry Charles Henry Phillips moved from England ...
-
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
By Anne M. Todd, Daniel E. HarmonBelt, Don, ed. The World of Islam. National Geographic Society, 2001. Daniel, Elton L. The History of Iran. Greenwood Press, 2001. Gordon, Matthew. Ayatollah Khomeini. Chelsea House Publishers, 1988. Greenblatt, Miriam. Iran.
-
Susan B. Anthony: Activist
By Anne ToddA biography of Susan B. Anthony, a women who worked to bring equality to women and African Americans.
-
Who's Who in the Midwest
Office : State Police Dept 714 S Harrison Rd East Lansing MI 48823 DAVIS , JOHN RAYMOND , physical education teacher ; b . Chgo . , Aug. 23 , 1940 ; s . William Meade and Ruby Elvira ( Pearson ) D .; m . Judith Anne Osborn , Aug.