Tiara Records

Florence Greenberg
Born	(1913-09-16) 16 September 1913 Passaic, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	2 November 1995(1995-11-02) (aged 82) Hackensack, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Music executive, record label proprietor, record producer
Years active	1956–1976
Known for	Founder of Tiara Records, Scepter Records, Hob Records, and Wand Records; manager and producer of The Shirelles, Dionne Warwick, Tammi Terrell, Chuck Jackson, B.J. Thomas

Florence Greenberg (September 16, 1913 – November 2, 1995) was a prominent American music executive, record label proprietor, and record producer. She established several influential labels including Tiara Records, Scepter Records, Hob Records, and Wand Records. Greenberg gained recognition for her production and management roles with notable 1960s performers such as Dionne Warwick, the Shirelles, Tammi Terrell, Chuck Jackson, and B.J. Thomas.

Early life and career

Originally a homemaker in Passaic, New Jersey, Greenberg ventured into the music industry at age 43 in 1956. Seeking a break from suburban routine, she often visited the Turf restaurant in New York City near the Brill Building. Through a connection with her husband's acquaintance, Freddy Bienstock, she entered the record business via Hill & Range Music.

In 1958, she initiated Tiara Records. After hearing a female vocal group perform at Passaic High School, her daughter encouraged her to sign them. Greenberg auditioned and signed The Shirelles in her own living room. Their first single, "I Met Him on a Sunday," was released under Tiara and attracted local popularity. Subsequently, Greenberg sold both Tiara and The Shirelles' contract to Decca Records for $4,000.

The following year, in 1959, she founded Scepter Records, which grew into a major independent label during the 1960s. She re-signed The Shirelles and took on their management. In 1961, Wand Records was created as a subsidiary of Scepter. By 1963, The Shirelles discovered that an anticipated royalty trust had not been established, leading them to leave Scepter and initiate a breach of contract lawsuit. Both parties withdrew their legal claims in 1965 after reaching an agreement.

Although lacking musical ability—she described herself as "a white woman who was in a black business and who couldn't carry a tune"—Greenberg collaborated closely with producer Luther Dixon. While Dixon managed publishing and artistic production aspects, Greenberg concentrated on the business side. She moved her labels’ headquarters to 1650 Broadway, placing them near the Brill Building’s songwriting center.

In 1965, Greenberg turned down a $6 million offer from Gulf+Western to acquire Scepter, a decision she later regretted. She retired in 1976, selling all her labels to Springboard International.

Personal life and death

Greenberg was married to an accountant and had two children: Mary Jane (Greenberg) Goff and Stanley Greenberg. At the time of her passing, she was grandmother to six grandchildren and great-grandmother to five great-grandchildren. Her son-in-law, Sam Goff, serves as managing partner at Essex Entertainment. She practiced Judaism. Greenberg passed away from heart failure on November 2, 1995, at Hackensack University Medical Center in Hackensack, New Jersey. She was 82 years old and resided in Teaneck, New Jersey.

Legacy

In 2011, the Broadway musical Baby It's You! premiered, portraying Greenberg’s life with Beth Leavel cast as her character. Prior to the production's debut, Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures faced a lawsuit filed by performers Beverly Lee of The Shirelles, Dionne Warwick, Chuck Jackson, and the estates of Doris Coley Jackson and Addie Harris Jackson over unauthorized use of their names and likenesses. The dispute was resolved through settlement by Warner Bros. in December 2011, three months after the show closed without proceeding to trial.

Noteworthy Productions

Among the significant tracks released under Greenberg's labels are:

• The Shirelles' "Dedicated to the One I Love"
• Chuck Jackson's "I Don't Want To Cry"
• The Kingsmen's "Louie Louie"
• B. J. Thomas' "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" (featured in the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid; recipient of the Academy Award for Best Original Song)
• The Shirelles' "Soldier Boy" (written by Greenberg)
• The Shirelles' "Tonight's the Night"
• The Isley Brothers' "Twist and Shout"
• Dionne Warwick's "Walk On By"
• The Shirelles' "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" (notable as the first single by a girl group to achieve a Number One position on the charts)