He is best known as one of the creators of Legacy Recordings, a branch of Sony Music Entertainment and as the originator and producer of the Roots 'N' Blues series.
After leaving school he attended City College of New York, but left during his studies to serve in the U.S. Army in the Korean War.
When the war ended he toured widely as a member of the Army basketball team, before returning to complete college and enrol at Brooklyn Law School.
[BAM, 1991] During his tenure at both CBS and Playboy, he was responsible in various ways for the Discovery/Signing/Producing/Career Decisions of many artists including but not limited to: Billy Joel (as "Attila"), Willie Nelson, REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick (as "Fuse"), Edgar Winter's White Trash, Johnny Winter, Fleetwood Mac (Peter Green's earlier line-up), Shuggie Otis, Johnny Otis, Don "Sugarcane" Harris, Ivory Joe Hunter, ABBA (as "Bjorn & Benny"), Jo Ann Kelly, Brenda Patterson, Sam Phillips (productions), Wayne Cochran & the CC Riders, Lead Belly (first live concert), Otis Blackwell, Gene Austin, Rufus (pre-Chaka Khan), Max Weinberg ("Blackstone"), Poco, Tammy Wynette, Charlie Rich, Jim & Jesse, Bob Luman, David Houston, Jim Messina, Terry Reid, Mashmakhan, Gary Busey ("Carp"), Redbone, CHASE, Santana, Neil Diamond, Taj Mahal, The Clancy Brothers with Tommy Makem, Gene Autry, Pete Seeger, Bill Monroe.
He was a "three category" Blues Foundation winner [Hall of Fame; Vintage Historical Reissue; Career: Historical Preservation] as well as being a vernacular music collector of note and a founding member of the near-legendary "Blues Mafia," a group considered by many as a major impetus regarding the renewed interest in Traditional American Music!
He received numerous awards and citations for his work, including France's "Academie Charles Gross: Grand Prix Du Disque."
[1992] He was the recipient of the President's Life Achievement Award, given by his undergraduate alma mater, City College of New York [CUNY].