David Levine (executive)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
David Levine (Entertainment Executive)
Levine David 2012.jpg
Levine in 2000
OccupationPresident, promark Music and Television
Websitehttps://www.promarkMusic.com

David Levine is an entertainment executive.

Background[]

Levine was born in Montreal.[1] At the start of his career, he was a news broadcaster in Toronto. In the 1970s, he worked at CKGM and CKEY. After several years in this field, he joined Vickers and Benson Advertising in Canada as the director of promotion. A&W Root Beer and McDonald's. Soon thereafter, he became the General Manager of Vickers and Benson’s Analytical Communications, Inc.[citation needed]

In the 1970s, Levine established promark in Canada as a promotions agency.[2] Some of the company's early clients included Planters Peanuts, Fleishmann's Margarine, Oh Henry Chocolate Bars, Baby Ruth, A&W Root Beer and McDonald's.[citation needed]

In 1977, Promark landed the contract to promote a daredevil called "The Human Fly".[3][4][dead link] This project allowed the company to enter into the entertainment industry and the U.S. market. Levine sold the property to Marvel Comics, who turned it into a comic book superhero.[citation needed] Toy rights were sold to Mattel Toys.[1]

In 1978, the Toronto Star described Levine as "a hype artist, a media manipulator, an advertising wizard, a hustler, an exaggerator" working in the "underbelly of the entertainment business". He was working with acts including Donna Summer, Dionne Warwicke, and Lou Rawls[5]

In the same year, 1978, Levine established Talisman Records.[6] After the release of one single, "Pretty Girls" by Lisa Dal Bello, and one album, he sold Talisman Records to Capitol Records.[7] While promoting Dal Bello, he secured a promotional tie-in with Revlon.[8]

A short time later, he formed Hot Vinyl Records and signed Patsy Gallant[9] and Dwayne Ford to the label.[10]

In 1983, thru his company, Promark Television Broadcast, Levine began selling full-length motion pictures and music specials to cable and home video, including Mrs. World, Miss Fitness, From Hawaii with Love and musical specials featuring Dianne Warwick, Fats Domino, Ricky Nelson, Liberace, Johnny Cash.[citation needed]

Since at least 2001, Levine was involved in TV syndication.[11][12]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "He hates the term 'promoter' but David Levine is one". Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  2. ^ "promark Homepage". promark. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  3. ^ "Human Fly NBC Network USA Part 1". Retrieved July 7, 2012.
  4. ^ AP. "Will Human Fly Get Squashed on Top of Jet". The Miami News. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
  5. ^ "Promoter Hustles to Change A Negative Image". Toronto Star. January 12, 1978. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  6. ^ "Promoter David Levine Launches New Label and Artist". Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  7. ^ "Promo Man Levine Forms New Diskery". Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  8. ^ "Revlon Tie-In Helps Launch New Vocalist". Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  9. ^ "Patsy Gallant – Stranger In The Mirror". Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  10. ^ "Various articles about Hot Vinyl". Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  11. ^ Chris Pursell. "Levine Returns to Promark, Greenlights 'Worldstars'". TV Week. Archived from the original on February 6, 2008. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
  12. ^ "What Sells a Show, the Pitch or the Pay?". The LA Times. June 12, 2001. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
Retrieved from ""