Milt Okun | |
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 Okun in 2011 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1923-12-23)December 23, 1923 |
| Died | November 15, 2016(2016-11-15) (aged 92) |
| Occupations |
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| Labels | Cherry Lane Music Publishing Company, Inc |
Milton Theodore Okun/ˈoʊkən/ (December 23, 1923 – November 15, 2016) was an Americanarranger,record producer,conductor, singer and founder ofCherry Lane Music Publishing Company, Inc. Okun transformed the careers of a dozen or more major U.S. artists who under his tutelage became some of the most successful musical acts of the1950s,1960s, and1970s. His career lasted over 50 years from thefolk revival of the 1950s to the 21st century.[1]
Okun created arrangements or produced tracks for many popular groups and artists such as theChad Mitchell Trio,[2]Peter, Paul and Mary,[3]the Brothers Four,John Denver, andMiriam Makeba.[4] In 1968 he interviewed a number of American pop folksingers and published the songs they chose inSomething to Sing About![5]
At the height of Okun's career, critic Richard Sparks wrote, "Of all producers, Milton Okun's range is the widest, fromPlácido Domingo to the Muppets."[6] During a hiatus in his work as conductor forHarry Belafonte, Okun took on theChad Mitchell Trio as his first folk trio, later signingTom Paxton as a client for his new Cherry Lane Music publishing company when Paxton auditioned unsuccessfully for an opening in the trio. Okun began his long association withJohn Denver after Denver replaced Chad Mitchell in the renamed "Mitchell Trio"[2] as well as bringing Denver to stardom and producing some of his most beloved hits. Okun was also an arranger and producer for Peter, Paul and Mary, and his Cherry Lane Music became the music publishing company forElvis Presley andDreamWorks among other successful acts.[1]
Okun died on November 15, 2016, at the age of 92.[7][8]
In 2008, Okun won the Abe Olman Publisher Award at theSongwriters Hall of Fame ceremony. Milton T. Okun published his memoir,Along the Cherry Lane, on June 13, 2011.
Okun was part of the folk quartet the Skifflers and also recorded several albums of his own in the 1950s.[9]
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