Musician. He was an American music producer, song arranger, band leader and record label owner. Born in the Corona section of Queens Borough in New York, he began playing piano at age seven. After starting Columbia College in 1927 for electrical engineering, he switched to music and abandoned his studies to become an arranger. In 1934, began his own band at Earl Carroll's club in Hollywood. His orchestra recorded for Brunswick Records. One the vocalists with his orchestra was Johnny Mercer, who later became known as a songwriter and co-founder of Capitol Records. In the 1940s Bleyer became Arthur Godfrey's musical director until the 1950s. In 1952 he founded Cadence Records, featuring a Godfrey graduate, Julius La Rosa. Then he signed additional artists from Godfrey's programs, such as The Chordettes, of which one of them, Janet Ertel, became his wife; Johnny Tillotson; Andy Williams and The Everly Brothers, who recorded 38 songs on six Cadence albums. Bleyer was the Everlys' producer and also the father-in-law of Phil Everly. Bleyer distributed his own recording hits on the Cadence label as well another of his hits, Vaughn Meader's "The First Family" which sold 6.5 million copies. After the British Invasion of singers, his business declined. In 1964 he closed Cadence and sold the record masters to Andy Williams. His cause of death was complications of Parkinson's disease.
Musician. He was an American music producer, song arranger, band leader and record label owner. Born in the Corona section of Queens Borough in New York, he began playing piano at age seven. After starting Columbia College in 1927 for electrical engineering, he switched to music and abandoned his studies to become an arranger. In 1934, began his own band at Earl Carroll's club in Hollywood. His orchestra recorded for Brunswick Records. One the vocalists with his orchestra was Johnny Mercer, who later became known as a songwriter and co-founder of Capitol Records. In the 1940s Bleyer became Arthur Godfrey's musical director until the 1950s. In 1952 he founded Cadence Records, featuring a Godfrey graduate, Julius La Rosa. Then he signed additional artists from Godfrey's programs, such as The Chordettes, of which one of them, Janet Ertel, became his wife; Johnny Tillotson; Andy Williams and The Everly Brothers, who recorded 38 songs on six Cadence albums. Bleyer was the Everlys' producer and also the father-in-law of Phil Everly. Bleyer distributed his own recording hits on the Cadence label as well another of his hits, Vaughn Meader's "The First Family" which sold 6.5 million copies. After the British Invasion of singers, his business declined. In 1964 he closed Cadence and sold the record masters to Andy Williams. His cause of death was complications of Parkinson's disease.
Bio by: Fred Beisser
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