McCuen, Brad, 1921-2002

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Brad McCuen was born on May 17, 1921 in New York City’s Manhattan. At age 15, McCuen’s interest in jazz and swing music was sparked by a gift of recordings from orchestra leader Red Norvo. McCuen attended University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and while majoring in journalism, McCuen took summer jobs in radio stations. McCuen fought in World War II at Normandy, and after his discharge, sold records for Majestic Brands in New York. From 1948 until 1969 McCuen worked for RCA Victor Record Division as Atlanta and Chicago regional fieldman, music director and then producer of special recordings, and finally as producer in artists and repertoire. His accomplishments in RCA included numerous Grammy awards and nominations, along with the popular (and to some extent, commercial) success of various reissue series, including the popular “Vintage Series” and “Reader’s Digest” series of recordings.

After a brief tenure as professional manager of Sunbury-Dunbar Music publishing, McCuen founded his own record label called Mega Records in Nashville, Tennessee. A few of the artists brought Mega notable success, but after establishing and/or acquiring four music publishing firms, and creating a new label, McCuen sold Mega and became a partner in Record Row Associates.

McCuen spent the remainder of his career as a director of the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (SESAC), host of a popular syndicated jazz radio program, instructor of music industry at Belmont College, judge for the American Song Festival, but also as a music industry consultant for various artists, record companies, associations and organizations, radio stations, publishers, and the NARAS. McCuen’s memberships in various organizations and services on boards and committees are too numerous to list here. Brad McCuen went into semi-retirement in 1979, and died in Knoxville on June 9, 2002.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn McCuen, Brad;. Oral history interview with Brad McCuen; 1975 November 20; interview conducted by Douglas B. Green. Country Music Foundation, Library & Media Center
creatorOf McCuen, Brad;. Oral history interview with Brad McCuen; 1975 July 22; interview conducted by Douglas B. Green. Country Music Foundation, Library & Media Center
creatorOf McCuen, Brad;. Oral history interview with Brad McCuen; 1976 April 9; interview conducted by Douglas B. Green. Country Music Foundation, Library & Media Center
creatorOf McCuen, Brad;. Oral history interview with Brad McCuen; 1975 June 3; interview conducted by Douglas B. Green. Country Music Foundation, Library & Media Center
referencedIn McCuen, Brad;. Oral history interview with Brad McCuen; 1974 June 19; interview conducted by Douglas B. Green; Country Music Foundation, Library & Media Center
creatorOf McCuen, Brad;. Oral history interview with Brad McCuen; 1974 March 11; interview conducted by Douglas B. Green. Country Music Foundation, Library & Media Center
creatorOf McCuen, Brad;. Oral history interview with Brad McCuen; 1988 April 8; interview conducted by Jay Orr. Country Music Foundation, Library & Media Center
creatorOf McCuen, Brad;. Oral history interview with Brad McCuen; 1975 April 29; interview conducted by Douglas B. Green. Country Music Foundation, Library & Media Center
referencedIn McCuen, Brad;. Oral history interview with Brad McCuen; 1975 June 3; interview conducted by Douglas B. Green. Country Music Foundation, Library & Media Center
creatorOf McCuen, Brad;. Oral history interview with Brad McCuen; 1976 February 6; interview conducted by Douglas B. Green. Country Music Foundation, Library & Media Center
creatorOf Brad McCuen Collection Center for Popular Music, Middle Tennessee State University
creatorOf McCuen, Brad;. Oral history interview with Brad McCuen; 1975 August 11; interview conducted by Douglas B. Green; Country Music Foundation, Library & Media Center
referencedIn Sundgaard, Arnold, 1909-2006. Papers relating to Kurt Weill, 1949-1983. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison
creatorOf McCuen, Brad;. Oral history interview with Brad McCuen; 1974 June 19; interview conducted by Douglas B. Green; Country Music Foundation, Library & Media Center
creatorOf McCuen, Brad;. Oral history interview with Brad McCuen; 1975 May 8; interview conducted by Douglas B. Green. Country Music Foundation, Library & Media Center
creatorOf McCuen, Brad;. Oral history interview with Brad McCuen; 1975 January 27; interview conducted by Douglas B. Green. Country Music Foundation, Library & Media Center
referencedIn McCuen, Brad;. Oral history interview with Brad McCuen; 1975 April 23; interview conducted by Douglas B. Green. Country Music Foundation, Library & Media Center
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Country Music Association (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Green, Douglas B.; person
associatedWith Orr, Jay; person
associatedWith RCA Records. corporateBody
correspondedWith Sundgaard, Arnold, 1909-2006 person
associatedWith United States. Army. Infantry Division, 1st. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Manhattan NY US
Knoxville TN US
Subject
Country music
Sound recording executives and producers
Sound recording executives and producers
World War, 1939-1945
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1921-05-17

Death 2002-06-09

Information

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