Lou Adler - Biography

Lou Adler (born December 13, 1933) is an American record producer, manager, and director.

Life and career

Adler was born in Chicago, Illinois in December 1933, and raised in East Los Angeles. In 1964, Adler founded and co-owned Dunhill Records. He was President of the label as well as the chief record producer from 1964 to 1967. That summer he sold Dunhill for three million dollars to ABC Records. Later in 1967, he founded Ode Records. In June 1967, Adler helped to produce the Monterey International Pop Festival, as well as the film version, Monterey Pop.

Music

He formerly managed Jan & Dean and produced Sam Cooke, The Mamas & the Papas, Johnny Rivers, Barry McGuire, Scott McKenzie, The Grass Roots, Spirit, Carole King, The Weaver Temptations (which he signed in 1968) and Cheech and Chong. He won two Grammy Awards in 1972 in the Record of the Year category for producing It's Too Late by Carole King and in the Album of the Year category for Tapestry (also by King).

Film

In 1975, Adler produced the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and in 1981, its follow-up, Shock Treatment.

In 1978, Adler directed the movie Up In Smoke, starring Cheech & Chong. The movie remains a cult hit, and in 2000 Adler recorded a commentary track along with Cheech Marin for the DVD release. His 1981 followup film, Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains, was barely released, but enjoyed a long life on cable TV broadcasts.

Personal Life

Lou Adler was married to actress and singer Shelley Fabares in 1964 and produced several of her songs. They separated in 1966 but were not formally divorced until 1980. In 1973 he fathered his first son, Nic Adler, with actress Britt Ekland. In 1978 he fathered another son, Cisco Adler, with then-girlfriend Phyllis Somer.

Today, Adler is married to former actress Page Hannah, younger sister of actress Daryl Hannah. The couple has four sons, Manny, Ike, Pablo, and Oscar.

Adler can often be seen sitting court side next to Jack Nicholson at Los Angeles Lakers home games. Adler owns The Roxy Theatre with his son Nic, who operates the historic music venue, on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, California. Peter Fonda reportedly partly based his character Terry Valentine in The Limey on Adler, according to Fonda's interview on the DVD.

External links

• Musicguide Bio