Dick James

This article is about the singer. For the American football player, see Dick James (American football).

Dick James (12 December 1920 – 1 February 1986), born Reginald Leon Isaac Vapnick,^[1] was a music publisher and the founder of the DJM record label and recording studios, as well as (with Brian Epstein) The Beatles' publisher Northern Songs.

Early life

He was born in the East End of London.

Career

Early days

James sang with North London dance bands in his early teens, and was a regular vocalist at the Cricklewood Palais by the age of seventeen. He joined the Henry Hall band, and made first radio broadcast in 1940. Joining the Army in 1942, after World War II he continued to sing with top post-war bands, including Geraldo's. Later still, James was also a part time member of The Stargazers, a popular early 1950s vocal group.^[2]

He was the singer of the theme songs of The Adventures of Robin Hood and The Buccaneers, from British television in the 1950s, and was a friend and associate of renowned record producer George Martin.^[3]

Switch to publishing

James entered the music publishing business as his singing career tapered off. In early 1963 he was contacted by Brian Epstein who was looking for a publisher for the second Beatles single Please Please Me and agreed an appointment for 11am the following morning. Having arranged a previous meeting at 10am Epstein left in disgust at 10.25 when the executive he was due to meet failed to appear and arrived at James's office at 10.40. Apologising to her for being early and despite offering to wait until 11.00 the receptionist contacted James who promptly ushered Epstein into his office. Having heard the record and telling Epstein it was a number one James was invited by Epstein to publish and promote it. James then called Philip Jones, producer of the TV show Thank Your Lucky Stars, played the record down the phone to him and secured the band's first nationwide television appearance.^[4] The pair subsequently established Northern Songs Ltd., with Beatles John Lennon and Paul McCartney, to publish Lennon and McCartney's original songs.^[5] (Fellow Beatles George Harrison and Ringo Starr were also signed to Northern Songs as songwriters, but did not renew their contracts in 1968). James's company, Dick James Music, administered Northern Songs.^[6]

What initially began as an amicable working relationship between the Beatles and James disintegrated by the late 1960s; the Beatles considered that James had betrayed and taken advantage of them when he sold Northern Songs in 1969 without offering the band an opportunity to buy control of the publishing company. James profited handsomely from the sale of Northern Songs, but the Beatles never again had the rights to their own songs.^[7]

During the 1960s he also handled Billy J. Kramer and Gerry & The Pacemakers.

Later days

James signed Elton John and his lyricist Bernie Taupin as untried unknowns in 1967, and formed DJM Records in '69. Indeed, all of John's early releases (up to 1976) were issued on the DJM record label. The label also carried Jasper Carrott, RAH Band and even John Inman.

John formed his own Rocket label in 1976, but in 1982, John was involved in a long court case with James about royalties.^[8] In June 1985, the British music magazine, NME, reported that John was suing James over the rights to his earlier material.^[9]

Death

James died in London of a heart attack in early 1986, at the age of 65. Dick James Music was acquired by PolyGram which was in turn acquired by Universal Music Group.

British chart hits

• "Robin Hood" / "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" - (1956) - Number 14
• "Garden of Eden" - (1957) - Number 18

^[10]

Trivia

• James was parodied in the film All You Need Is Cash as "Dick Jaws."

Notes

1. ^ fscwv.edu
2. ^ chartwatch.co.uk Retrieved: 8 August 2007
3. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 23. CN 5585. 
4. ^ Coleman, Ray (1990). Brian Epstein - The Man Who Made The Beatles. London: Penguin. p. 118. 
5. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 117. CN 5585. 
6. ^ Spitz 2005. p365
7. ^ Harry 2000. p573
8. ^ Publishers and Artists contracts Retrieved: 29 January 2007
9. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 405. CN 5585. 
10. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 278. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 

References

• Harry, Bill (2000). The Beatles Encyclopedia: Revised and Updated. Virgin Publishing London. ISBN 0753504812. 
• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
• Spitz, Bob (2005). The Beatles: The Biography. Little, Brown and Company (New York). ISBN 1845131606. 

External links

• Dick James at the Internet Movie Database
• 'Robin Hood' song connections webpage
• Detailed website concerning Beatles song rights, including Dick James references
• James mini-biography at the Musicweb site
• beatlesbible.com bio

Persondata
Name	James, Dick
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	12 December 1920
Place of birth	East End of London
Date of death	1 February 1986
Place of death