JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR ASCENDS!
July 31, 2006
L-R ALLAN RINDE, ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER, DON WILLIAMS, TIM RICE, AND ARTIE WAYNE
Thirty years ago, I was general professional manager of Warner Bros. Music, living in Hollywood, when my friend Don Williams, who held a similar position at MCA msic, played me an acetate of “JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR”. I freaked out!!! My instinct told me …this was going to be a phenomenon!!! I asked Don to play it for Allan Rinde, the beloved head of Columbia records A+R dept….he was as excited as we were and proceeded to hold listening parties…that included all of the underground tastemakers of the time.
MCA RECORDS credits us with breaking the album. I hope Tim and Andy have forgiven me for trying to talk them out of writing “Evita”…..Who would go to see a show about an ex-dictators wife anyway?
YOU CAN BUY MY BOOK, “I DID IT FOR A SONG” (AVAILABLE ONLINE ONLY) FOR $9.99 BY CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO ARTIE WAYNE P.O. BOX 1105 , DESERT HOT SPRINGS CALIFORNIA, 92240 OR THROUGH PAYPAL TO MY EMAIL ADDRESS artiewayne@gmail.com
Copyright 2014 by Artie Wayne
Artie Wayne On The Web 
April 16, 2007 at 2:59 pm
Who could have thought that ‘Phantom of the Opera’ would make a popular musical either? Oh, wait, it already has opera music. Never mind.
December 16, 2008 at 12:25 am
wow. i might have known you had a hand in that classic record. when is that book coming out? i gotta pre-order!!
April 22, 2009 at 6:58 am
I read your blog for quite a long time and must tell you that your posts always prove to be of a high value and quality for readers.
August 5, 2011 at 2:09 am
Artie, your information, stories, notes …. help so much in keeping the history of Rock/Pop alive . . . Thank you Artie
February 28, 2012 at 6:05 am
Artie, you must have inspired “Zelig.” I bet if I look at the Declaration of Independence closely I will find your signature. 🙂