LOS ANGELES — Alan W. Livingston, the music executive who created Bozo the Clown and signed the Beatles while president of Capitol Records, has died. He was 91.
Livingston died Friday of age-related causes in his Beverly Hills home, said stepdaughter Jennifer Lerner.
Livingston began his show business career as a writer and producer of children’s read-along record albums for Capitol Records.
He came up with the Bozo character for the 1946 album “Bozo at the Circus,” a hit which spawned an industry of merchandise and the television series featuring the clown.
When he moved into executive positions at Capitol Records in the early 1950s, Livingston signed Frank Sinatra, then at a low point in his career, and introduced him to arranger Nelson Riddle. They produced “I’ve Got the World on a String” and “Young At Heart,” which led to Sinatra’s comeback.
Livingston left the record label in the late 1950s to work in television, where he produced the Western series “Bonanza.” He returned to Capitol Records as president in the 1960s, when he signed the Beach Boys, Steve Miller and the Band.
When Livingston heard the Beatles song “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” he agreed to release the single and brought the Fab Four to the United States in 1964 to promote it.
Capitol earlier had rejected the group’s initial hit British singles.
