Mileposts
By KRISTINA TUNZI
Saturday, September 30 2006
Saturday, September 30 2006
Published on AllBusiness.com
Jimmie Maddin, 78
Jimmie Maddin, 78, one of the most prolific unsung exponents of pop music in Hollywood for more than 50 years, died Sept. 1 at the Nevada State Veterans Home. Born James Nechamkin on Feb. 27, 1928, in Sheboygan, Wis., Maddin began his professional career at 8 as a "boy wonder" singer in his older brother Jack Hampton's big band. As a young man, Maddin lead Gen. McArthur's First Cavalry Division Band. Upon discharge, in Hollywood, he helped develop the popular '50s rock'n'roll saxophone style known as "honking" and cut what some consider the West Coast's first rock'n'roll tune, "Boogie Boo."
Maddin was an early rock'n'roll radio broadcaster, hosting "The Nighthawk Bandstand" on the Mighty 690. He hosted his own weekly TV program on KTLA, and appeared as a bandleader in a number of films including "There's No Business Like Show Business." But his career began to shift from performer to producer when, after nearly landing the lead role in "Rock Around the Clock," he was replaced by Bill Haley due to a previous contract agreement.
Shortly after, Maddin was hired to head American International Pictures' music division. While at AIP, Maddin innovated the production of film scores, helping create the modern movie soundtrack album concept. Maddin found himself at the center of many notable moments in midcentury Los Angeles, from co-writing a theme song for the newly arrived Dodgers to discovering and producing '60s rock band the Seeds. He also owned and operated a string of Hollywood's most successful nightclubs, including the Sanbah, the Summit/Sundown, the Mardi Gras, Trojan Room, Hot Toddies, the Copa and the Capri. He brought many musical luminaries to Los Angeles for their first Southern California appearances.
Yet Maddin's greatest accomplishment may have been the way he challenged the color line that ran through the American music industry. His consistent hiring of and performing with African-American and Latino musicians ran counter to the privately voiced and publicly displayed preferences of Los Angeles' law enforcement and entertainment establishment—his love duet with Jeanette Baker on 1950s TV program "The Johnny Otis Show" was one historical moment.
Maddin enjoyed a career resurgence late in life, as film fans and cult followers of '50s music discovered him still performing weekly on saxophone, leading the band at his Glendale club. Maddin was invited to perform at many music festivals, was a favorite on Doug McIntyre's "Red Eye Radio" on KABC in Los Angeles, and published a series of memoirs in Record Convention News titled "L.A. History Book," which shared the name of his final CD release, picked by the L.A. Weekly as one of the top CDs of the year 2000.
Maddin is survived by his son, Jimmy Maddin; his daughter-in-law,
Jimmie Maddin, 78, one of the most prolific unsung exponents of pop music in Hollywood for more than 50 years, died Sept. 1 at the Nevada State Veterans Home. Born James Nechamkin on Feb. 27, 1928, in Sheboygan, Wis., Maddin began his professional career at 8 as a "boy wonder" singer in his older brother Jack Hampton's big band. As a young man, Maddin lead Gen. McArthur's First Cavalry Division Band. Upon discharge, in Hollywood, he helped develop the popular '50s rock'n'roll saxophone style known as "honking" and cut what some consider the West Coast's first rock'n'roll tune, "Boogie Boo."
Maddin was an early rock'n'roll radio broadcaster, hosting "The Nighthawk Bandstand" on the Mighty 690. He hosted his own weekly TV program on KTLA, and appeared as a bandleader in a number of films including "There's No Business Like Show Business." But his career began to shift from performer to producer when, after nearly landing the lead role in "Rock Around the Clock," he was replaced by Bill Haley due to a previous contract agreement.
Shortly after, Maddin was hired to head American International Pictures' music division. While at AIP, Maddin innovated the production of film scores, helping create the modern movie soundtrack album concept. Maddin found himself at the center of many notable moments in midcentury Los Angeles, from co-writing a theme song for the newly arrived Dodgers to discovering and producing '60s rock band the Seeds. He also owned and operated a string of Hollywood's most successful nightclubs, including the Sanbah, the Summit/Sundown, the Mardi Gras, Trojan Room, Hot Toddies, the Copa and the Capri. He brought many musical luminaries to Los Angeles for their first Southern California appearances.
Yet Maddin's greatest accomplishment may have been the way he challenged the color line that ran through the American music industry. His consistent hiring of and performing with African-American and Latino musicians ran counter to the privately voiced and publicly displayed preferences of Los Angeles' law enforcement and entertainment establishment—his love duet with Jeanette Baker on 1950s TV program "The Johnny Otis Show" was one historical moment.
Maddin enjoyed a career resurgence late in life, as film fans and cult followers of '50s music discovered him still performing weekly on saxophone, leading the band at his Glendale club. Maddin was invited to perform at many music festivals, was a favorite on Doug McIntyre's "Red Eye Radio" on KABC in Los Angeles, and published a series of memoirs in Record Convention News titled "L.A. History Book," which shared the name of his final CD release, picked by the L.A. Weekly as one of the top CDs of the year 2000.
Maddin is survived by his son, Jimmy Maddin; his daughter-in-law,
