Albert Grossman was born on May 21st, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois. He attended college at Roosevelt University in Chicago, where he graduated with a degree in economics. After graduating, he worked for the Chicago Housing Authority. He left, however, in the late 1950’s in order to pursue a career in the club business (O’Conner). During this time the folk revival movement was growing rapidly, leading Grossman to invest into this uprising scene. Grossman opened up a club called Gate of Horn that was located in the basement of the Rice Hotel. In 1959, Grossman began managing select acts that performed at his club (Gray 283). In 1961, Grossman helped found the folk group Peter, Paul and Mary. In no time at all, they experienced success when their
…show more content…
As part of the contract, he had a no tolerance policy for any intravenous drug use, and the entire band agreed to abide. However, he discovered in 1969 that Joplin was injecting drugs, and he did not confront her about it. Instead he took out a life insurance policy that guaranteed him $200,000 in the event that Joplin died. Joplin died of a heroin overdose on October 4th, 1970. The San Francisco Associated Indemnity Corp. challenged his collection of the life insurance money from Joplin’s death, which resulted in a trial in which the insurer tried to prove that Joplin’s death was by suicide and not accidental overdose. Grossman testified that he had no knowledge of Joplin’s drug abuse and won the case and collected $112,000 (Amburn …show more content…
Grossman charged his client’s 25% commission, which is higher than the industry average of 15%. Grossman is even quoted saying, “Every time you talk to me you're ten percent smarter than before. So I just add ten percent on to what all the dummies charge for nothing” (Goodman 89). By this statement alone, we get a glimpse into the faulty, greedy character of Grossman. In theory, Bob Dylan’s song ‘Dear Landlord’ is about Grossman. The lyrics depicted the unhealthy relationship between him and his manager. Janis Joplin also later recorded a version of this song. What Grossman did wrong is not creating a strong enough relationship with the artists, and putting money above the artists. It is my opinion that he would sway them his way with material goods, and with promises that he never fulfilled. In fact, Joan Baez is quoted saying that Grossman tried signing her by saying, “Look, what do you like? Just tell me what do you like? I can get it for you. I can get anything you want. Who do you want? Just tell me. I'll get you anybody you want” (Hajdu 56). I have no doubt that he made his clients believe through manipulation that 25% commission was fair and that everyone was benefitting in the long run equally. Grossman put money over his artists, which was demonstrated when he took out a life insurance policy on Joplin after discovering she was
As part of the contract, he had a no tolerance policy for any intravenous drug use, and the entire band agreed to abide. However, he discovered in 1969 that Joplin was injecting drugs, and he did not confront her about it. Instead he took out a life insurance policy that guaranteed him $200,000 in the event that Joplin died. Joplin died of a heroin overdose on October 4th, 1970. The San Francisco Associated Indemnity Corp. challenged his collection of the life insurance money from Joplin’s death, which resulted in a trial in which the insurer tried to prove that Joplin’s death was by suicide and not accidental overdose. Grossman testified that he had no knowledge of Joplin’s drug abuse and won the case and collected $112,000 (Amburn …show more content…
Grossman charged his client’s 25% commission, which is higher than the industry average of 15%. Grossman is even quoted saying, “Every time you talk to me you're ten percent smarter than before. So I just add ten percent on to what all the dummies charge for nothing” (Goodman 89). By this statement alone, we get a glimpse into the faulty, greedy character of Grossman. In theory, Bob Dylan’s song ‘Dear Landlord’ is about Grossman. The lyrics depicted the unhealthy relationship between him and his manager. Janis Joplin also later recorded a version of this song. What Grossman did wrong is not creating a strong enough relationship with the artists, and putting money above the artists. It is my opinion that he would sway them his way with material goods, and with promises that he never fulfilled. In fact, Joan Baez is quoted saying that Grossman tried signing her by saying, “Look, what do you like? Just tell me what do you like? I can get it for you. I can get anything you want. Who do you want? Just tell me. I'll get you anybody you want” (Hajdu 56). I have no doubt that he made his clients believe through manipulation that 25% commission was fair and that everyone was benefitting in the long run equally. Grossman put money over his artists, which was demonstrated when he took out a life insurance policy on Joplin after discovering she was