Re: [ARSCLIST] Mercury co-founder Irving Green passes

[phillip holmes <insuranceman@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Tom,
I thought that Q was THE first black man to be a VP at any major American 
company (I.E., not a black owned small business, but a large white dominated 
company).  Am I misinformed on this?
Phillip
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Fine" <tflists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> 3. Mercury was cited as being very progressive in their hiring, which is 
> true. My mother was one of the first female vice presidents of a major 
> record label. Quincy Jones was also among the first black vice presidents 
> of a major label. Norman Granz was responsible for many of Mercury's early 
> jazz efforts in one way or another, so his attitudes were influential from 
> early on. What was very progressive about Mercury was that the attitude 
> was, whatever works. If it sold well and sounded good, the attitude was 
> they didn't care who was doing it and people were rewarded in a 
> meritocracy. I do not think one could say all labels, especially the 
> majors, worked this way.