Jewish influence in rhythm and blues

Prominent Jewish entrepreneurs included Herb Abramson of Atlantic, Jules Bihari of Modern, Al Green of National, Florence Greenberg of Apollo, Herman Lubinsky of Savoy, Syd Nathan of King, Art Rupe of Specialty, and Hy Weiss of Old Town.

[11] A few Jewish women were in the recording business, such as Florence Greenberg, who started the Scepter label in 1959, and signed the African American girl group, the Shirelles.

The songwriting team of Gerry Goffin and Carole King, who worked for Don Kirshner's Aldon Music at 1650 Broadway (near the famed Brill Building at 1619);[12] offered Greenberg a song, "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", which was recorded by the Shirelles and rose to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1961.

[14] The sometimes morally dubious business practices of men like Lubinsky and Syd Nathan caused Jewish label heads to be regarded as parasites on black culture by some groups and commentators.

[17] Historians Robert Cherry and Jennifer Griffith maintain that regardless of Lubinsky's personal shortcomings, the evidence that he treated African American artists worse in his business dealings than other independent label owners did is unconvincing.

Milt Gabler of Commodore Records has been frequently lauded for his taste in music, support of civil rights for African Americans, and fair business practices.

Syd Nathan and Leonard Chess were successful Jewish businessmen who could recognize talent, and while focussed at first exclusively on profits, they were examples of record company owners who gradually developed an appreciation for the music and the artists.

[23] These songwriters contributed to a revitalization of doo-wop and pioneered the girl group stylings of the Shirelles, the Crystals, the Ronettes, and the Shangri-Las,[12] all of whom had great Billboard chart success in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

[24] The music conceived at the Brill Building was more sophisticated than other pop styles of the time, combining contemporary sounds with classic Tin Pan Alley songwriting.