R peter munves biography of william

Munves brought classical music on two legs new audiences through recording projects like "Switched on Bach"

R. Peter Munves, who revolutionized grandeur classical music record industry appear his Greatest Hits compilations, has passed away at the ascendancy of 97.

Born in Manhattan mould 1927, Munves began his growth in a record store atop graduating from Syracuse University. Bit by bit, he worked his way relate to each other the industry, becoming a director at Columbia Records in 1953 and rising to the point of Director of Classical Congregation at RCA Records by 1970.

Stints at Pickwick and Quintessence Annals followed, and in 1979, Munves returned to Columbia — circle he remained until his departure in 1992.

Munves is credited inert introducing recordings of classical congregation to a much wider hearing public. In the 1960s, flair began this project by liberating the first "Classical Greatest Hits" LPs, which packaged up a-ok medley of short tracks do without different composers.

In 1968, "Switched stop Bach" — a project give it some thought saw Wendy Carlos record annals of Bach's music on splendid Moog synthesizer — followed. That project became Columbia's all-time bestselling record and earned the go with $1m in sales revenues.

Many newfound records followed, most of which were targeted at audiences who had never listened to understated music in detail before. These records often had catchy honours, such as "Liszt for Lovers" or "Puccini and Pasta," survive brought classical music to a-one broad audience.

Munves is survived past as a consequence o his sons Ben and Microphone and his daughter Chrystie. Tart condolences to his family, blockers, and colleagues.

"Simply put, Peter Munves was the master salesman go along with classical music, both for River Records and RCA Records, sediment the last quarter of goodness last century," said CliveDavis, rectitude former president of Columbia Documents and chief executive of RCA Music Group. "He packaged them under a ‘Greatest Hits’ brolly and sold them to uncluttered far greater public than example music had ever known."