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Paul Rappaport

Paul Rappaport was Senior VP at Columbia Records where he enjoyed a 33 year career in radio promotion and marketing. He is recognized as being instrumental in the careers of Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Santana, Journey, Elvis Costello, Judas Priest, Alice in Chains, and many more. He is also noted as the Co-Creator and Executive Producer of the Emmy Award winning series, A&E’s Live by Request, producing 40 live prime-time television music specials featuring a diverse array of artists from Tony Bennett to David Bowie. An active musician himself since he was fourteen, this adventure also brought great musical opportunities, including an inspirational guitar lesson from Keith Richards and a live onstage appearance with Pink Floyd at the London Arena. Paul joined Judy in 2009 to help build Classics Du Jour into what is now the music industry’s premiere promotion and marketing company for classic rock. At that time he started writing “Backstage Access” for CDJ, which has become a popular music blog filled with insights and inside stories about the many artists he has worked with over the years. Although Paul has stepped away from daily operations to pursue his own interests, he loves CDJ and continues to write “Backstage Access.” His recently formed blues band, Blues Next, is rapidly gaining steam on Long Island, NY where he lives. He is also writing a book about the wild, early days of the rock music business.

Articles by Paul Rappaport

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN-LIVE AT THE ROXY, Final INCREDIBLE Chapter!

Bruce Springsteen The Roxy 1978

I was totally exhausted, spent, numb, and couldn’t move one muscle to get up –even to talk to Bruce.  I just stayed there motionless, slumped and sunken deep in that leather den-like easy chair. So Bruce knelt down beside me on my left to talk.  He told me that all kinds of people had been … Continue reading BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN-LIVE AT THE ROXY, Final INCREDIBLE Chapter!


MORE BRUCE ROXY!! PT. 3

Well, as luck and the Universe would have it, Jackson B. Snyderfish The 3rd got his phone line up in time and Bruce and the boys hit the stage not too long after 8:00 PM. As any of you who have heard this broadcast might remember, Bruce begins by apologizing to the crowd for the … Continue reading MORE BRUCE ROXY!! PT. 3


BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN-LIVE AT THE ROXY, PT. 2

Bruce Springsteen The Roxy 1978

First, thanks to AJ in Nashville for REMINDING ME to finish this story!! I guess this is as good a time as any with “We Take Care Of Our Own” lighting up the radio airwaves and the Wrecking Ball album and tour announced. So, where was I? Oh yeah, three days of prep and I … Continue reading BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN-LIVE AT THE ROXY, PT. 2


Current Events!

Hi everyone! And belated Happy New Year! I’m very late in blog land because Judy and I have been knee deep in promoting the new Van Halen, Bruce Springsteen, and Pink Floyd “The Wall” reissues! Yes, it’s a big month for rock and roll! First, having a new album by Van Halen with Diamond Dave … Continue reading Current Events!


Happy Holidays to you all!

Hi Everyone, Just a quick to note to wish all a wonderful Holiday Season. And, get ready for Pink Floyd’s reissue of The Wall in Discovery, Experience, and Immersion Editions. These are great packages and the latter two are filled with early demos. Listening to them is like sneaking into Picasso’s studio and seeing how … Continue reading Happy Holidays to you all!


Bob Seger live with Bruce! Plus-Rolling Stones new “Some Girls” review!

Sorry I haven’t been here for a while. A lot has been going on both personally and professionally. I do promise to finish the “me on stage with Pink Floyd” story, as it’s worth telling and it will also give you a real look at what it’s like to be on THAT SIDE of the … Continue reading Bob Seger live with Bruce! Plus-Rolling Stones new “Some Girls” review!


Pink Floyd – Part I

The week of September 26th is officially “Why Pink Floyd?” week. The pig will fly once again over the Battersea Power Station, Nick Mason and Roger Waters will guest with other cool musicians on the Jimmy Fallon show, radio stations all over the country will be doing huge Pink Floyd Promotions, Redbeard’s In The Studio … Continue reading Pink Floyd – Part I


Aerosmith Airplanes

Aerosmith logo

Simms was on the roof again. Ronald Simms was a tall lanky friend of mine sporting a floppy, sandy colored hairdo. He had just started in the mailroom and I could relate as a lot of us had begun our careers doing a stint in the ol’ mailroom. Even though I was on the fourth … Continue reading Aerosmith Airplanes


QUEEN’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY!!

As the centerpiece of their 40th Anniversary celebration, Queen’s entire 15-album studio catalogue is being reissued in a series of new two-CD deluxe editions, the first 5 of which have just been released. So, you can get “Queen,” “Queen II,” “Sheer Heart Attack,” “A Day At The Races,” and “A Night At The Opera” all … Continue reading QUEEN’S 40TH ANNIVERSARY!!


Bruce’s Eulogy For The Big Man

This is Bruce’s eulogy for Clarence Clemons—The Big Man. I’m not sure if I’m even aloud to re-print it, but I don’t care. You need to read it and you need to copy it, and you need to send it to all your friends. And the reason you need to do this is because THIS … Continue reading Bruce’s Eulogy For The Big Man


The Big Man Passes Away

My good friend Mark McEwen called me late Saturday evening to let me know that the Big Man had passed away. This is an especially tough one for me as working for the Columbia Records label since 1969 (‘till 2003) I was so close to Bruce and the E Street band for so many years–most … Continue reading The Big Man Passes Away


Warren Haynes Doing It Right!

With all the talk these days about over inflated ticket prices and fans being taken advantage of by some promoters and greedy acts, I’d like to say congrats to Warren Haynes and his management and crew for doing it right. The Beacon was packed last night and each seat was $50.00. No expensive front row … Continue reading Warren Haynes Doing It Right!


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