Joe Isgro | |
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| Born | 1948 (age 77–78) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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Joe Isgro (born c. 1948) is an American iconic record promoter known for breaking countless hit records and shaping the careers of major artists across pop, rock, and R&B, and a reputedsoldier in theGambino crime family.[1] In the 1980s, Isgro was at the center of investigations into the role ofpayola in the music industry.[2][3]
Isgro was born inPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in theU.S. Marine Corps and at the age of 19, he was presented with a Purple Heart for his bravery and wounds received during combat in theVietnam War. His term with the Marines ended in 1968.[4]
Isgro's career began as local promotion director forDecca Records (which later becameMCA Records). His responsibilities included record promotion of various artists for thePennsylvania andNew Jersey territories. Some of these artists includedNeil Diamond,Murray Head,Jesus Christ Superstar,Sonny & Cher,The Who andElton John.
In 1970, Isgro went to work forParamount Records as the regional promoter, working with such artists asBilly Joel,Dave Mason andThe Crusaders. Isgro then went to work for Schwartz Bros., the largest independent record distributor whose clients includedMotown,A&M Records,RCA Records,Chrysalis Records andArista Records. In 1974,Roulette Records hired Isgro as the National Director of Promotion. Isgro led the promotional staff and oversaw the company's publicity and advertising department.[4]
Motown Records hired Isgro in 1976 as Regional Director of Promotion. He was responsible for the promotion and development ofDiana Ross,Stevie Wonder,Marvin Gaye,Smokey Robinson,The Temptations,Lionel Richie,The Jacksons,The Commodores,Thelma Houston andTeena Marie. In the years to follow, Isgro was promoted to National Director of Promotion, which brought him toCalifornia, and then to Executive Vice President of Promotion.[5]
After several years with Motown, Isgro left and became involved in the formation ofEMI Records, a division ofCapitol Records. Isgro was brought onto EMI to handle the promotion staff of the new label on the West Coast.[4]
In 1979, he formed Isgro Enterprises, Inc., an independent record promotion and consulting company. Isgro promoted releases for several major labels including records by artists including Michael Jackson,Culture Club, Neil Diamond,Journey, Diana Ross,Paul Young, Lionel Richie,Dionne Warwick,Hall & Oates,Barbra Streisand,The Rolling Stones,Supertramp,Kenny Rogers,Sheena Easton,Wham!,Bruce Springsteen,Kim Carnes,Chicago,Patti LaBelle,Phil Collins,Rod Stewart,U2,David Bowie, Elton John,Madonna,George Michael,Janet Jackson andPaula Abdul.[4]
Isgro then developed Los Angeles Recording Company (LARC), distributed through MCA Records. LARC signed actsThe Chi-Lites,The Dells,The Staple Singers andBonnie Pointer. Soon after the formation of LARC Records, Isgro established a second label, Private I Records, distributed through Columbia Records. The first release of Private I Records wasMatthew Wilder’s "Break My Stride", which peaked at number two on the US chart position. It would be the first of Private I's 27 charting singles.[4]
In 1992, Isgro produced the filmHoffa, starringJack Nicholson,Danny DeVito andArmand Assante. It was nominated for an Academy Award and aGolden Globe Award.[6]
Currently,[when?] Isgro is a producer at Raging Bull Productions His projects include the filmsLucky Luciano,Pablo Escobar andThe Stone Pony.[6] Isgro secured the rights for theLuciano story in 2007 and the film is currently[when?] in pre-production.[7]
In September 1990, Isgro and two other defendants were prosecuted for 57 counts ofpayola-related offenses, includingracketeering,mail fraud,money laundering andobstruction of justice. The case was dismissed by federal JudgeJames M. Ideman on grounds of "outrageous government misconduct."[8]
On March 25, 2000,Federal Bureau of Investigation agents and theBeverly Hills Police Department arrested the label owner and former independent promotion and charged him with a federal felony complaint ofextortion.[9] He wasconvicted[10] and sentenced to 50 months in federal prison.
According to an FBI affidavit, Isgro and a crew of collectors and enforcers extorted hundreds of thousands of dollars from scores of victims, charginginterest rates of up to 5% a week. Theloan sharking operation had been going on since 1994, the FBI said.[11]
According to criminal complaints filed in the case, aRancho Palos Verdes, California, man, Bernard Beyda, complained toBeverly Hills police in January that he was threatened after he had difficulty making "loan" payments, which included 5% in weekly interest, to Saitta.[12]
On July 30, 2014, Isgro pleaded not guilty in New York State Supreme Court to charges of gambling, conspiracy, and money laundering. He was released on $250,000 bail.[13]
