Kim Fowley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kim Fowley
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Fowley in 2012
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kim Vincent Fowley |
| Born | July 21, 1939 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Died | January 15, 2015 (aged 75) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Record producer, songwriter, musician, impresario |
| Years active | 1959–2015 |
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Kim Vincent Fowley (born July 21, 1939 – died January 15, 2015) was an American music producer, songwriter, and musician. He was known for creating many unique pop and rock songs in the 1960s. He also managed the famous all-girl rock band The Runaways in the 1970s. People often called him one of the most interesting people in rock and roll history.
Contents
Early Life and School
Kim Fowley was born in Los Angeles, California. His parents were actors Douglas Fowley and Shelby Payne. They later divorced. Kim went to University High School. Many future stars went to school with him. These included singers Jan Berry and Dean Torrence (from Jan and Dean), Bruce Johnston (from the Beach Boys), and Nancy Sinatra. Actors like Ryan O'Neal and Sandra Dee were also his classmates.
Music Career Highlights
In 1957, Kim Fowley got sick with polio. After he recovered, he started managing a local band called the Sleepwalkers. This band included Bruce Johnston and drummer Sandy Nelson. In 1959, he began working in the music business. He worked for important music figures like Alan Freed and Berry Gordy. His first record as a producer was "Charge" by the Renegades. He also helped promote songs for the duo Skip & Flip. Their song "Cherry Pie" became a big hit.
The 1960s: Producing Hits
In the early 1960s, Fowley helped create many successful songs in Los Angeles. He co-produced the fun song "Alley Oop" with Gary S. Paxton. This song became a number one hit in 1960. It was released under the name the Hollywood Argyles, which was a made-up group. In 1961, he helped produce "Like, Long Hair" for Paul Revere and the Raiders. He also arranged "Nut Rocker" for B. Bumble and the Stingers. This song became a number one hit in the UK in 1962.
Fowley also discovered "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" for the Rivingtons. In 1963, he produced "Popsicles and Icicles" for The Murmaids. This song reached number three on the music charts. It was written by David Gates, who later formed the band Bread.
In the mid-1960s, Fowley moved to London, England, for a while. He wrote lyrics for Cat Stevens' song "Portobello Road." He also worked with early versions of famous bands like Slade and Soft Machine. He even worked with a young Ritchie Blackmore. Fowley also helped rename the band the Farinas to "Family."
Around 1967, Fowley worked with The Seekers' guitarist Keith Potger. They wrote the lyrics for "Emerald City." This song used a tune from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.
Fowley also made his own music in the 1960s. He released albums like Love Is Alive and Well. In 1965, he wrote and produced a song called "The Trip." He was also credited on the Mothers of Invention's first album. Their band leader, Frank Zappa, joked that Fowley's "hypophone" was his mouth, because he was always promoting things.
In 1968, Fowley produced the only album for the band St John Green. In 1969, he helped arrange John Lennon's last-minute performance at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival. Fowley was the host of this event. He also produced an album for Gene Vincent and co-wrote songs for Warren Zevon. He worked with his friend Skip Battin on songs for the Byrds and the New Riders of the Purple Sage.
The 1970s: The Runaways and KISS
In 1973, Fowley produced songs for the film American Graffiti. These included "At the Hop" and "Louie Louie". He also co-wrote songs for famous bands like KISS, Alice Cooper, and Helen Reddy.
In 1975, Fowley met a teenage guitarist named Joan Jett. She wanted to start an all-girl band. Soon after, he met 15-year-old drummer Sandy West. West also dreamed of an all-girl band. Fowley connected them, and they started playing together. Later, Fowley helped bring in Lita Ford, Cherie Currie, and Jackie Fox. Together, they formed the Runaways. Fowley produced some of their albums and helped with lyrics. However, the band mostly created their own music. They stopped working with Fowley in 1977.
Fowley also co-wrote two Kiss songs: "King of the Night Time World" and "Do You Love Me?" Both songs appeared on Kiss's 1976 album Destroyer. In 1978, Fowley formed another all-girl rock band called the Orchids.
The 1980s: New Discoveries
In the 1980s, Fowley moved to Australia. He was looking for the "new Beatles or ABBA." He found a band called Beathoven and helped them get a new record deal. They changed their name to the Innocents. Fowley also produced early songs for the power pop band Candy.
Fowley discovered the band Steel Breeze by listening to many demo tapes. Their song "You Don't Want Me Anymore" became a Top 20 hit in 1983. Its music video was popular on early MTV.
In 1984, Fowley tried to create a new version of "the Runaways" with new members. In 1986, he discovered the band Shanghai. He helped them write and record songs. Shanghai played with famous bands like Guns N' Roses at the Whisky a Go Go club.
The 2000s and 2010s: Later Years
In 2003, Fowley was featured in a documentary film called Mayor of the Sunset Strip. He also started making experimental films. Some of his movies include Black Room Doom and Satan of Silverlake.
In 2004, Fowley released a solo album called Adventures in Dreamland. It included songs like "Mayor of the Sunset Strip." He also performed many live shows as part of a duo called Crazy White Man. His song "The Trip" was used in the 2008 film RocknRolla.
In 2010, a film about The Runaways was released. It was based on Cherie Currie's book about her time in the band. Michael Shannon played Kim Fowley in the movie. In 2012, Fowley won a special award at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival for his films.
In his last years, Fowley worked on writing his autobiography. He released the first part, Lord of Garbage, in 2012. It covered his early life and music career up to 1969. On September 24, 2014, Fowley married his longtime girlfriend, Kara Wright-Fowley.
Death
Kim Fowley died from bladder cancer in Hollywood, California, on January 15, 2015. He was 75 years old. He is buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Selected discography
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See also
In Spanish: Kim Fowley para niños
