Biography

Music executive. Born May 17, 1921. Sales and production executive for RCA Records, 1948-1969. In 1969 he left RCA to head Mega Records and oversaw the release of the label’s biggest record, Sammi Smith’s “Help Me Make It Through the Night.” Later served as Director of Country Music for SESAC. Longtime Country Music Foundation board member.

Interview Summary

1974 March 11
(3 hours, 15 minutes)
Music industry executive Brad McCuen talks about the development and early years of his career, focusing on his college years and the early years of his work in sales and distribution for RCA. Discussion includes his childhood and family history; his introduction to the music business; memories of his college years at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; the development of his interest in music; a brief history of early record labels; his early experiences as a booking agent; genres of musical interest; his work with the Glenn Miller Band reissue albums; changes in the recording industry; the relationship between upper levels of the recording business and country music; memories from working with Steve Sholes; his early introduction to country music; working with Don Gibson early in Gibson’s career; and his experiences in the record business following World War II, including the growing importance of Nashville.