(July 6, 1942 – June 8, 2011)
Popovich was born in Nemacolin, Pennsylvania, and in 1962 started in the warehouse at Columbia Records Cleveland
1962-1969 Columbia Records Cleveland - Inventory control, sales desk, local Cleveland sales and radio and TV promotion. Main artists promoted were The Buckinghams, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Billy Joe Royal, Johnny Cash, Paul Revere & the Raiders, Simon & Garfunkel, etc.
1969-1972 Assistant to Ron Alexenburg, Director of Promotion Columbia Records.
1972-1974 at age 26 First VP of Columbia Records promotion and youngest VP at CBS. Appointed by Clive Davis. As VP Promotion his local and regional staff worked to maximize the careers of The Buckinghams, Loggins & Messina, Jerry Vale, O.C. Smith, Dr. Hook & Medicine Show, Shel Silverstein, Boz Scaggs, Paul Revere & the Raiders, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Santana, Janis Joplin, Johnny Cash, Marty Robbins, Lynn Anderson, Tom Rush, David Bromberg, New York Rock Ensemble, Dave Mason, West Bruce Laing, Mahavishnu Orchestra, It's A Beautiful Day, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Johnny Mathis, Chicago, Percy Faith, Tony Bennett, Peter Nero, Earth, Wind & Fire, Taj Mahal, The Manhattans, The Wombles, Mark Lindsay, Tony Bennett, Eric Andersen, Andy Williams, Ray Coniff, David Essex, Chambers Brothers, Miles Davis, Mott the Hoople, Johnny Winter and others.
Promotion Awards: National Promotion Man of the Year 1972-1973 Billboard Magazine as voted by radio.
Clive Davis Award presented to Steve Popovich and Ron Alexenburg for Promotion Excellence.
1974-1976 VP A&R Epic Records working with Epic head, Ron Alexenburg
1974-1976 Epic A&R – Popovich and Alexenburg, and their A&R staff consisting of Greg Geller, Tom Werman, John Boylan, Becky Mancuso-Winding, etc. were instrumental in signing and launching the careers of: Jaco Pastorious, Boston, Cheap Trick, Ted Nugent, Wild Cherry, Suzy and the Red Stripes, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, Betty LaVette, ke, Doc Severensen, Joe Tex, Dave Loggins, Michael Murphy, Charlie Rich, The Soul Children and others.
1977-1982 Founder and President of Cleveland International Records whose greatest claim to fame was Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell currently at 40 million records worldwide.[1] The label also found worldwide success with Jim Steinman’s solo album Bad for Good, Ellen Foley Night Out album, BJ Thomas, The Rovers, Michael Kamen/Dick Wagner, Slim Whitman, the Boyzz Too Wild to Tame, Eddie Middleton. Management and/production of Ian Hunter/Mick Ronson and production of Tom Jones, The Iron City Houserockers, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes and Ronnie Spector. The company’s first single was in 1977 featuring "Say Goodbye to Hollywood", Ronnie Spector & The E Street Band produced by Miami Steve Van Zandt.
1986 SR Vice President Polygram Nashville working with Statler Brothers, Tom T. Hall, and Kathy Mattea and signing Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Paycheck, Frank Yankovic (winner of First Polka Grammy 1986), Wayne Toups & Zydecajun, Donna Fargo, David Lynn Jones, Everly Brothers, and special projects like The Class of ’55 Album featuring Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins.
1995–2011: Cleveland International Records: David Allan Coe, Frank Yankovic, Brave Combo, Eddie Blazonczyk, Singing Nuns, Chas & Dave, Michael Learns to Rock, and Roger Martin.
Popovich has been involved as co-producer and/or label in six Grammy nominations and winner[2] of two.
In 1997 Popovich was inducted into the National Cleveland-Style polka Hall of Fame.[2]
Steve Popovich is also a founding member of the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.
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