Neil E. Bogart (bornNeil Scott Bogatz,[1] February 3, 1943 – May 8, 1982) was an American record executive. He was the founder ofCasablanca Records, which later became Casablanca Record and Filmworks.[2][3]
BornNeil Scott Bogatz in theBrooklyn Jewish Hospital, centralBrooklyn,New York City, the son of Ruth (Markoff) and Al M. Bogatz. His family wasJewish.[4][5] He grew up in theGlenwood Houses, a housing project in theFlatlands section of Brooklyn. He was a singer in the 1960s, using the name Neil Scott, and had a hit single, “Bobby” in 1961, prior to running theMichigan offices ofCameo-Parkway Records.[6] Bogart discovered the group ? and the Mysterions, and produced their hit “96 Tears” in 1966. After Cameo-Parkway was shut down by the government for stock fraud in 1968,[7] Bogart became an executive atBuddah Records. He is credited with being a key player in the rise ofbubblegum pop music during his time working at Cameo-Parkway and Buddah.
He started Casablanca in 1973 when he first signedKiss and later became identified with the rise ofdisco by promoting the careers of acts such asDonna Summer and theVillage People. The Casablanca roster also contained rock acts such asthe Godz,T.Rex,Fanny, andthe Hudson Brothers, but the label became best known for its disco product. The label was also known for tapping into thefunk market with the signing ofGeorge Clinton'sParliament in 1974.
Bogart's health began to deteriorate in 1981, leading to the removal of one of his kidneys and frequent trips to the hospital.[10] Bogart died oflymphoma at age 39 in Los Angeles. He was interred atHillside Memorial Park inCulver City, California.[11]
Bogart's widow, Joyce Bogart-Trabulus, teamed with songwriterCarole Bayer Sager to found the Neil Bogart Memorial Fund (now the Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Program) in 1984.[12] That same year, the fund established its laboratories at theChildren's Hospital Los Angeles.[13] The fund was a division of the T.J. Martell Foundation until the mid-2000s.[14]
The Kiss albumCreatures of the Night is dedicated to Bogart's memory (the dedication is found on the back cover[15] of the original vinyl release of the album, near the bottom [Casablanca Records NBLP-7270]. The dedication is also found on the CD release on the inside of the insert, where the credits are located [Casablanca Records/Mercury 314-532-391-2]. The dedication simply states: "Neil Bogart 1943-1982").
Donna Summer's self-titled album from 1982 is also dedicated to Bogart's memory, and the liner notes contain one of his favorite sayings, "Why head for the mountaintop when you're reaching for the sky?"[citation needed]
Village People's 1982 albumFox on the Box was also dedicated to Bogart's memory.
In 2013,Justin Timberlake signed to star in the feature filmSpinning Gold, a biopic of Bogart written by his son, Tim Bogart.[18] On June 20, 2019, it was reported thatJeremy Jordan had taken over the role.[19] The film was released on March 31, 2023.
Literature
Going Platinum, a book about Bogart, was published in 2014. It was written by his nephew Brett Ermilio and Josh Levine and published by Globe Pequot Press.
^ Symmons, J. (2023).The Rise of the Fox: 1950-1982, Eric Carr Revealed, Volume 1, an unauthorized biography, p. 324, Spirit of Inquiry.ISBN978-1-7390695-1-3
