Artie Ripp

American music industry executive, entrepreneur and record producer. Originally a singer in The Four Temptations, he became a gopher for mid 1950s songwriter/producer Richard Barrett (5). In the 1960's vice-president of Goldie Records (3) and one of the co-founders of the Kama Sutra and Buddah Records labels, launching such acts as The Lovin' Spoonful, Sopwith Camel, Melanie Safka, and The Shangri-Las. Formed Family Productions in 1970 and launched Billy Joel on the label in 1971. He founded and owned Fidelity Studios in North Hollywood, California. Born: October 29, 1940 in Brooklyn, New York.