Murray Deutch

March 3rd, 1920 – Oct 2nd, 2010

Murray Deutch was an American music publisher and executive known for his instrumental role in launching the career of rock 'n' roll pioneer Buddy Holly at Peer Southern Music, and for his decades-long leadership in prominent music publishing companies.

Born in 1920, he initially pursued a career as a big band singer before serving in the U.S. Army Entertainment Corps during World War II, where he performed in Irving Berlin's This Is the Army.

Murray Deutch

After the war, Deutch entered the music publishing industry as a song plugger and rose to the position of general professional manager at Peer-Southern International. There, he received a demo tape of "That'll Be the Day" by Buddy Holly and the Crickets, enthusiastically championed it, and helped secure its release through Coral Records, marking Buddy Holly's first major hit and sparking a string of successful recordings.

In the 1960s, he served as executive vice president of United Artists' music division, overseeing publishing for major film projects including the James Bond series, The Beatles films "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help", and the cinematic adaptation of "Hair".

He later became Chairman and Chief Executive officer of the New York Times Music Publishing Co. in 1972, acquiring rights to works such as "West Side Story" and "Godspell". In 1976, he founded his own publishing company, Buttermilk Sky, which supervised music for films including "Annie", "Ghostbusters", and "The Big Chill".

He also worked as a music supervisor on several feature films in the 1990s, notably the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" trilogy and "Grumpier Old Men".

Murray's son Howard, Directed of "Some Kind Of Wonderful", "Grumpier Old Men" and the cult classic "Pretty In Pink" movies.

Murray was born in the Bronx, New York City, where he spent his early years. [A native of the Bronx, he sang with big bands as a teenager, reflecting an early immersion in music performance during the swing era.

He began his professional involvement in the music and entertainment industry as a big band singer before World War II. During the war, he served in the U.S. Army Entertainment Corps and performed in Irving Berlin's production "This Is the Army." Following the end of the war, Deutch worked as a song plugger, promoting songs to artists, performers, and record labels.

He subsequently transitioned into music publishing, assuming the role of general professional manager at Peer-Southern International, where he oversaw professional activities for the firm's catalog. In this position at Peer-Southern, Deutch represented the publishing interests of New Mexico-based producer Norman Petty, who recorded Buddy Holly and the Crickets. Deutch was instrumental in the early promotion of Buddy Holly's work, recalling that when Petty sent him a tape of "That'll Be the Day," he "went nuts for it" based on his instinct for the song's unique intonation. He brought the recording to Bob Thiele, head of A&R at Decca Records' Coral subsidiary, in 1957, facilitating Holly and the Crickets' signing to the label and their emergence as a major act.

Photo below: Bob Thiele and Murray Deutch in a Buddy Holly documentary talking about how they signed The Crickets

Murray Deutch held prominent executive positions in music publishing across several major companies during his career. He began his publishing leadership at Peer-Southern International, where he advanced to head of the New York-based operation by 1958, overseeing professional management activities during a period that included key involvement with Buddy Holly and the Crickets' breakthrough recordings.

In 1970, Deutch became president of the United Artists Music Publishing Group, guiding the company's catalogue and operations until his departure. He transitioned to the New York Times Music Corporation (also referred to as New York Times Music Publishing Co), appointed chairman and chief executive officer in 1972 and president and chief executive officer in 1973 following the company's establishment as a Times affiliate. During his tenure, he acquired significant rights, including those to the score of West Side Story.

He remained in the presidency until 1976, when Robert Beal succeeded him as president and chief operating office

Murray Deutch was involved in film through his work in the music department, most notably as a music supervisor on several motion pictures from the late 1980s through the 1990s. Drawing on his long career in music publishing, he oversaw music selection, licensing, and related tasks for these projects. He served as Music Supervisor for the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" franchise, contributing to "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" (1990), "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II": "The Secret of the Ooze" (1991), and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III" (1993). He also held music supervisor credits on other films, including "The Bedroom Window" (1987), "Speed Zone" (1989), "Article 99" (1992), "Grumpier Old Men" (1995), and "The Odd Couple II" (1998).

Additional roles included music consultant on "China O'Brien" (1990), music clearance on "The Believers" (1987), and an uncredited music supervisor contribution to "RoboCop" (1987).

Murray had been married to his wife, Pamela (Pearl Wolkowitz), since November 8, 1947, a union that lasted until his passing.

Murray Deutch died on October 2, 2010, in Scottsdale, Arizona, at the age of 90. The cause of his death was not publicly disclosed.