Home > Music > Shopping Event > Meet Jac Holzman, founder of Elektra Records

If even your most pedestrian music lover were to take a tour of songs on their iPod playlist, chances are that more than a few would bear the logo of Elektra Records. Björk, the Cars, Metallica, Carly Simon, Yes and Tom Waits are just a few of the artists ushered into public consciousness thanks to the Elektra label.

Jac Holzman founded the legendary imprint while he was still attending St. John’s College back in the 1950s. He was also something of an A&R visionary, with the distinction of signing the Doors to their first recording contract. Another coup was landing Ann Arbor, Michigan sonic revolutionaries the MC5.

Ranging from its pioneering years (chronicled in Rhino’s recently released “Forever Changing: The Golden Age Of Elektra Records—1963 to 1973”) to its pivotal role in bringing hip-hop to the music industry, Elektra's one of the most important American labels of all time.

Holzman will be making a rare personal appearance at the freshly erected holidays-only Rhino record store (8032 3rd Street, a couple of blocks west of Fairfax), talking about all things Elektra. Maybe he’ll even be nice enough to sign that old Paul Butterfield vinyl album you found in your dad’s closet.

Scott T. Sterling is Music editor for Metromix Los Angeles.