Wes Farrell

b. 21 December 1940, New York, USA, d. 29 February 1996, Fisher Island, Florida, USA. One of pop’s most successful entrepreneurs, Farrell rose to prominence in the early 60s as an associate of Luther Dixon. He co-wrote several songs for the Shirelles, including the frenetic R&B song ‘Boys’, later covered by the Beatles, before joining Roosevelt Music in an A&R capacity. Farrell signed Neil Diamond and the Feldman/Gottehrer/Goldstein team, and showed a flair for unashamed pop through his association with Jay And The Americans. The artist co-wrote two of their best-known singles, ‘Come A Little Bit Closer’ and ‘Let’s Lock The Door (And Throw Away The Key)’, and these major US hits were the prelude to a highly lucrative period. His Picturetone publishing company became a feature of the ‘teenybop’ market while Farrell enjoyed success as a producer with the Cowsills and Every Mother’s Son, both of which he leased to MGM Records. He dabbled with underground rock through an association with Boston group the Beacon Street Union, before returning to ‘bubblegum’ styles with the immensely popular Partridge Family and continued successfully with Tony Orlando And Dawn. An attendant television series helped this group secure five US Top 20 hits during 1970/1. Farrell later founded the Chelsea label, which became one of the leading labels of the disco era. He died from cancer in 1996.