 | Edgar Bronfman Jr.: Encyclopedia II - Edgar Bronfman Jr. - Career
Edgar Bronfman Jr. - Career
Bronfman proceeded to a brief career in entertainment in the 1970s as a film and Broadway producer. The summer before his final year of high school, in 1972, he was a credited producer on the film, "The Blockhouse". Despite his inexperience, Bronfman's involvement was accepted because of his connections and access to financing. In return, he learned many of the tricks of the trade by watching his more experienced peers.
In 1973, Bronfman began a songwriting career under the pseudonyms Junior Miles and Sam Roman. He often collaborated with Bruce Roberts on songs like "Whisper in the Dark", which he gave to Dionne Warwick to record, to thank her for introducing him to his first wife, Sherry.
His Efer Productions company was signed by Universal Studios in 1977 to a three-year movie production contract. He produced the film "The Border", which starred Jack Nicholson.
In 1982, Bronfman returned to the Seagram Company, spending three months learning the ropes before moving to London to become managing director of Seagram Europe. In 1984, Bronfman returned to New York as President of the House of Seagram, the company's U.S. marketing division. By 1994 he worked his way up to Chief Executive Officer of Seagram, where he led a diversification away from the traditional liquor business into music (Polygram) and film entertainment (MCA,Dreamworks SKG,Universal Pictures). He then led Seagram into a disastrous all-stock acquisition by French conglomerate Vivendi in 2000.
In December 2001, Bronfman announced he was stepping down from an executive capacity at Vivendi Universal, but remaining as vice chair of the board.
On February 27, 2004, Bronfman finalized the acquisition of Warner Music and he has served as Chairman and CEO of the music company since that time.
In recent years, he has continued to dabble in songwriting and penned the hit song "To Love You More" which was recorded by Celine Dion, and Barbra Streisand's "If I Didn't Love You".
Other related archives1955, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1984, 1993, 1994, 2000, 2001, 2004, American Pie 2, Barbra Streisand, Broadway, Bronfman family, Canada, Celine Dion, Dionne Warwick, Dreamworks SKG, Edgar Miles Bronfman, England, February 27, Jack Nicholson, Jewish, London, London, England, Los Angeles Times, MCA, MGM, Manhattan, May 16, Montreal, New Orleans, New York, New York City, Polygram, Samuel Bronfman, Seagram, The Collegiate School, The Exit, United States, Universal Pictures, Universal Studios, Village Voice, Vivendi, Warner Music, prep school, producer
 Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Career", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki |
