MARVIN SCHLACHTER,
1934-2024

Marvin Schlachter, a trailblazing indie executive and label head, has died at the age of 90.

The New York native, who worked in the CBS mailroom before selling ads for Cashbox, met Florence Greenberg just before she left her promo job at Decca and became her right-hand man when she started her own indie, Scepter/Wand. He handled practically every key function—distribution, marketing, promo, publicity—and had great success throughout the 1960s with now-classic records by Dionne Warwick, The Shirelles, B.J. Thomas, Tammi Terrell, Chuck Jackson and The Kingsmen.

In 1969 he was named president of Janus Records, a newly formed label launched by U.K. indie Pye before it was sold to GRT. He then oversaw the associated GRT labels, which included Chess, before forming disco label Prelude in 1977. Following Prelude’s 10-year run, Schlacter continued his career at a number of indies.

He is survived by his wife, Trudy, an author and photographer, and their three sons.