Marty Thau

Education

Thau was raised in New York City and attended New York University, 1956–1960.

Career

After spending the latter half of the "60s as an award winning record industry executive at Cameo-Parkway and Buddah Records, he joined an independent production/publishing/management company, Inherit Productions, as one of three partners. In Thau"s 12 months at Inherit the company released two classic albums by Van Morrison, Astral Weeks and Moondance, Vintage Violence by ex-Velvet Underground member John Cale, the debut album by rock power-trio Glass Harp, an album by Cass Elliot—when she switched over to Radio Corporation of America Records from American Broadcasting Company Records—and a project by bittersweet story-teller, Biff Rose. He left Inherit in 1972 to become head of A&R for Paramount Records but resigned six months later to manage the renewal of rock "n" roll in the form of the legendary New York Dolls.

After the Dolls disbanded in 1975, Thau entered New York"s underground demimonde and was integral to the scene"s development as a spawning ground of punk-new wave stars.

He is acknowledged as such in the Encyclopedia of Record Producers, a Billboard Magazine reference book that lists the 500 most important record producers in music history and behind the scenes heroes of popular music In addition to the Dolls, he worked with prominent punk and new wave artists such as The Ramones, Blondie, Brian Setzer, Richard Hell & The Voidoids, The Real Kids, The Fleshtones, Martin Rev and Walter Steding for his Red Star label.

In 1980, he released a new wave compilation album through Red Star called Marty Thau Presents 2x5, which featured 2 songs each from New York City bands The Fleshtones, The Revelons, Bloodless Pharaohs (featuring Brian Setzer), Comateens, and Student Teachers. Marty Thau died on February 13, 2014 due to complications from renal failure, aged 75.

Before his death, Thau reported that he was working on a memoir titled Rockin" The Bowery (From the New York Dolls to Suicide), previewed in Rocker Magazine in the fall of 2011.

A second excerpt, about his experiences with Suicide during their first European tour, was published in Sensitive Skin magazine in December, 2012.

Achievements

• He was best known as the founder of Red Star Records in 1977, arguably America"s first full—fledged post "60s indie punk—new wave label and for being the manager of the New York Dolls and co-producer of Suicide"s classic self-titled debut album. The Dolls urban street attitude, gender parodying irreverence, and songs drawn from such disparate influences as early "60s girl groups, southern soul, and "50s rock "n" roll inspired him to champion their cause.