b. 11 May 1923; Chicago, IL
d. 27 December 1997; Los Angeles, CA
Record executive of the post–World War II era, heading at different times two of the biggest black-owned
labels of all time, Vee-Jay and Motown. With
owner Art Sheridan, he first ran the Chance label
(1950–1954) and then served as the general manager
and part owner at Vee-Jay beginning in 1955, running the company for founders Vivian Carter and
James Bracken. In 1961 he became president. Under
his stewardship, Vee-Jay (and its subsidiary label
Abner) became a major independent by not only
getting hits on such blues acts as Jimmy Reed and
John Lee Hooker, but also such soul acts as Jerry
Butler, Gene Chandler, Dee Clark, Betty Everett,
and such rock ’n’ roll acts as the Beatles and the
Four Seasons. Abner owned and headed Constellation (1963–1966), and then joined Motown, where he
served as its president from 1973 to 1975. Abner
continued to work with Motown’s Berry Gordy in
various capacities until his death.
ROBERT PRUTER
Bibliography
Pruter, Robert. Chicago Soul. Urbana: University of Illinois
Press, 1991.