Biography

Music industry executive and producer. Born July 26, 1922. Full name: James Staton Foglesong. Career active 1950s-1990s. Career highlights include producer for the Columbia, Epic, and RCA record labels and president of Dot Records, ABC-Dot, MCA Nashville, and Capitol Nashville. His artist roster included several of country music’s biggest stars, including Reba McEntire, George Strait, and Garth Brooks. Member, Country Music Hall of Fame®.

Interview Summary

1992 May 28 (1 hour, 55 minutes) Music industry executive Jim Foglesong discusses his experiences working for RCA, CBS, and Dot Records. Discussion includes the different working environments at RCA and CBS; his successful work with Ed Ames; changing attitudes toward covering songs; his method for auditioning songs; the impact of changes in the music industry during the late 1960s; his decision to move to Nashville; his start at Dot Records; working with Jim Halsey; the country music audience; the basic country contract; and comments on the promotion and marketing of country records.