Keith Holzman
Oral History Information
Keith Holzman cut his teeth as a theater director and lighting designer in New York. In 1964 he joined Elektra Records, which his brother Jac formed back in 1950. Keith coordinated production of all the label’s releases and later ran Elektra’s spin-off classical label, Nonesuch. The label released albums by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and soprano Teresa Stratas, as well as music based on emerging electronic instruments such as the Moog and Buchla synthesizers. These include “Silver Apples of the Moon” by Morton Subotnick in 1967, and the “Nonesuch Guide to Electronic Music” by Beaver & Krause. Keith also worked with his brother when they released albums by The Doors, Carly Simon, and Judy Collins, among others. In 1984 Keith formed his own label, ROM Records, and in the early 90’s, teamed with his brother again to purchase and run the jazz label Discovery. Keith and Jac expanded the label beyond jazz, releasing other genres including pop and rock albums. Keith later taught at UCLA Extension, worked as a management consultant to record labels, and wrote the book “The Complete Guide to Starting a Record Company.”