DM's Beatles forums
Beatles forums => News => Topic started by: I am the Paulrus on November 26, 2012, 07:48:58 AM
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Pete Bennett, super promo man for Beatles and more, has died
NOVEMBER 24, 2012
BY: STEVE MARINUCCI
http://www.examiner.com/article/pete-bennett-super-west-coast-promo-man-for-beatles-and-more-has-died (http://www.examiner.com/article/pete-bennett-super-west-coast-promo-man-for-beatles-and-more-has-died)
Pete Bennett, the promotion man who worked with the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who, Elvis Presley and many others, has died of a heart attack, Beatles Examiner learned today. His death was also reported by Simcoe.com.
Beatles Shea Stadium promoter Sid Bernstein issued a statement to Beatles Examiner through a business manager, “Sid regrets to hear of the passing of his old friend and wishes Pete's family strength and his prayers at this very trying time.”
Some of Bennett's work with the Beatles involved promoting Apple Records releases in the U.S. He helped push the releases by James Taylor, Mary Hopkin and Billy Preston, to name a few.
He also helped promote the individual solo careers of John Lennon, Ringo Starr, George Harrison and Paul McCartney. In addition, he helped set up the week-long co-hosting appearance of John Lennon and Yoko Ono on “The Mike Douglas Show” and arranged a meeting between George Harrison and Elvis Presley at Madison Square Garden when the King was appearing there. The two had originally met in Los Angeles during the days of Beatlemania.
But his career was much bigger than that. According to his biography, his work also found him connected with stars including Frank Sinatra, George Burns, Nat King Cole, Elvis Presley, John Wayne, Elizabeth Taylor, Brooke Shields, Steve Tyler, Eric Clapton, Michael Bolton, Vince Gil, Tony Bennett and Bob Hope.
He also worked with the Rolling Stones and stars of the British Invasion, including Peter & Gordon, Chad & Jeremy, the Kinks, Badfinger, the Dave Clark Five and the Animals.
On his website he took credit for helping arrange for Michael Jackson to be signed by CBS Records in 1976. And he said his discovery of a carpenter working on George Lucas' offices named Harrison Ford led to Ford's audition for the role of Hans Solo in “Star Wars.
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very sad and late *lol* ;sorry