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Russell Byrd

 


Russell Byrd is a pseudonym for song writer record producer and record company executive Bert Berns (Bertrand Russell Berns) who was born in New York City on 8 November 1929 and is regarded now as one of the major song writers and producers of rhythm and blues music and of 1960s music. His masterpieces include “Twist and Shout” and “Piece of My Heart”.

As a child he developed rheumatic fever which affected his heart and gave him poor health for all his short life.

In 1963 his work with singer Solomon Burke brought him to the
attention of Atlantic Records’ co-owners who hired him as a staff producer, and also lent him to Decca Records in London on a part time basis to help them modernise their output.

With his friends from Atlantic brothers Ahmet and Nesui Ertegun and Gerry Wexler he founded the “Bang!” record label which debuted with The McCoys’ update of an earlier Berns masterpiece, “Hang on Sloopy”, co-written with Wes Farrell, and which he had first recorded for Atlantic with The Vibrations.

Berns died, age 38, in New York City on 30 December, 1967.

Image: Bert Berns (l), Jerry Wexler (r) - Family of Bert Berns

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