Norman Bergen (born May 17, 1945, in Brooklyn, New York, United States) is an American pianist, arranger, record producer, band leader, musical director, and vocalist.
During his years in the Catskills, from 1959 until the mid-1960s, Bergen backed up many stars including Cab Calloway, Rodney Dangerfield, Jackie Mason, Dick Shawn, and jazz musician Joe Williams.
Bergen also met two well-known Brooklyn singing groups: Vito & the Salutations with whom he performed as a member for two years as well as writing songs and arrangements for their recordings, and The Tokens.
[6] There are now more than 60 versions including Tom Jones,[7] Wyclef Jean,[8] Nick Lowe on "The Convincer" CD,[9] Dion DiMucci, Long John Baldry, and calypso king Mighty Sparrow.
It has become a true standard in Finland as “Muisto vain jää”, with hit versions by Jouko and Kosti,[12] Pekka Tiilikainen and Beatmakers,[13] and Harri Marstio.
Bergen was musical director for the PBS fund-raiser “Let’s Rock Tonight Concert”[17] which featured original recording artists of the 50s and 60s including Fabian, Ben E. King, Del Shannon, Mitch Ryder, Martha & The Vandellas, and Mary Wells.
Bergen and associate Reid Whitelaw wrote and produced some of the most memorable disco records of the 70s with artists Gloria Gaynor " Love Is Just a Heartbeat Away",[20] Ralph Carter[21] of TV's Good Times, Vicki Sue Robinson, and singing group Moment of Truth, whose recording of “So Much For Love” would become the first twelve-inch 45,[22] as created by Tom Moulton.
Personnel include Nick Lowe, Anna Harvey, Geraint Watkins (keyboards), Zev Katz (bass), and Van Morrison alumni Johnny Scott (guitar) and Robert Treherne (drums), who co-produced the album with Neil Brockbank at Goldtop Studios in London.