Richard E. Meyer
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Richard E. Meyer (May 8, 1939 – August 18, 1992) was an American businessman, entrepreneur and record producer.
Biography
Meyer was born in Reading, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati. He applied to the U.S. Naval Academy, but was rejected because of his height (6 feet 7 inches). After graduating from the University of Michigan with a degree in journalism, he borrowed money to start an advertising agency named Meyer and Rosenthal. Within two years of opening, the company went from no revenue to $2 million. In 1974, Meyer joined the perfume company Jovan, Inc.Reichert, Tom. [http://www.aef.com/on_campus/classroom/book_excerpts/data/2476 The Erotic History of Advertising], Prometheus Books, 2003. Chapter 9 excerpt. and became its president and CEO in 1977.Obituary: [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-08-24-mn-5295-story.html "Richard E. Meyer; Former Jovan Perfume Chairman"], Los Angeles Times, August 24, 1992. Under Meyer's leadership, sales of Jovan perfumes quadrupled.
In 1984, Meyer founded the Chicago-based record label Red Label Records.{{cite magazine |last1=McCormick |first1=Moira |date=26 January 1985 |title=Red Label Using Big-League Marketing |accessdate=1 October 2019 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7CQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT5 |work=Billboard |volume=97 |number=4 |page=6}} In 1985, he wrote the lyrics for and produced the Chicago Bears' novelty record, "The Super Bowl Shuffle".Drehs, Wayne. [https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/index?id=5902944 "Behind The 'Super Bowl Shuffle'"], ESPN Chicago, December 9, 2010.
In 1988, Meyer sued Ad Age magazine and its editor-at-large Joseph M. WinskiMillman, Nancy. [https://web.archive.org/web/20121103075014/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4079939.html "Libel trial of Ad Age under way"], Chicago Sun-Times, October 29, 1991. for libel after the magazine published an article alleging that Meyer was a heavy drinker and cocaine user. Meyer initially lost the suit, but the decision was reversed on appeal, leading to an undisclosed settlement between the parties.
=Personal life and death=
Meyer died of cancer in 1992, at the age of 53. He was survived by his wife Julia and two daughters.Obituary: [https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/08/22/richard-e-meyer-53-ex-chairman-of-jovan/ Richard E. Meyer, 53, Ex-chairman Of Jovan], Chicago Tribune, August 22, 1992.
References
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Category:American entertainment industry businesspeople
Category:Record producers from Ohio
Category:People from Reading, Ohio
Category:University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts alumni