Died On This Date (August 25, 2009) Berle Adams / Former Label Executive & Agent
themusicsover Berle Adams (Born Beryl Adasky)
June 11, 1917 – August 25, 2009
Berle Adams was a longtime music industry executive who, through his career was Vice President of MCA and co-founded Mercury Records. Adams began his career as an agent, representing such acts as Coleman Hawkins and Louis Jordan. He later formed his own agency as well as a couple of publishing companies. In 1945, he co-founded Mercury Records, quickly releasing hits by the likes of Vic Damone and Frankie Laine. In 1950, Lew Wasserman hired Adams at MCA where he stayed for the next two decades, working mostly in television. While with MCA, Adams formed Uni Records who signed the Who, Neil Diamond and Elton John to name a few. In 1971, Adams left MCA to work for the William Morris Agency. Berle Adams passed away on August 25, 2009 at the age of 92.
Long John Baldry was an English born blues singer who played a pivotal role in the British blues rock scene of the 1960s. A towering presence at 6′-7”, Baldry was nicknamed Long John and had a booming voice to go with it. He was one of the first British singers of note to perform in blues clubs. As part of 
Marie Castello was the real life “Madam Marie” character in the Bruce Springsteen song “4th Of July, Asbury Park (Sandy).” The 1973 song finds Springsteen asking, “Did you hear the cops finally busted Madam Marie for tellin’ fortunes better than they do,” even though in real life, she never was. Castello began telling fortunes in her small Asbury Park boardwalk shop in 1932, and by the late ’60s, a young Springsteen reportedly visited with her often and would play his guitar outside her shop. According to Springsteen lore, it was during one of those visits that Castello told him he would one day be famous. Springsteen continued to stop by and visit in recent years. Over the years, Castello read fortunes of many famous entertainers who came to town. That list included 
Besides winning a Grammy for his own work, keyboardist Billy Preston made major contributions to some of the greatest names in pop music history. He can be heard playing alongside the Rolling Stones, Little Richard, 