User:Mwinog2777/eric

Eric Bernay (né Bernstein) was born in Odessa, Russia, and came to the United States as an infant. He started Keynote Records in 1937; previously he had been the owner of a mid-town Manhattan record store call The Music Room. His early releases were left-leaning folk and protest songs, including works by Pete Seeger and Paul Robeson. In 1943, looking for a larger audience he turned to jazz. Recording "the most celebrated jazz soloists...Keynote contributed greatly to documenting jazz history of forties America." In 1948 he sold Keynote to Mercury Records. In 1965 he started the music division of the United Jewish Appeal. He also managed prominent theatrical figures, including Eartha Kitt, Charlotte Rae and Dorothy Dandridge. At the time of his death he was president of a record distribution company.

He has been described as a member of the Communist underground. He testified that he was a member of the Communist Party from 1936-1938, and was advertising manager for the official Party organ, The New Masses during that time. He employed Arthur Adams, a Russian spy, in 1945 for $75/week as a plastic consultant. In 1945 he helped Adams escape FBI surveillance and leave New York City, accompanying him to Chicago. He advanced Adams money to make his way to Portland, Oregon, where he was stopped by the FBI trying to leave the country. Bernay claimed that he never suspected Adams was a spy, although he knew he had been under constant surveillance. The conclusion of the HUAC was that "it is unquestionable that persons associated with Adams...furnished him with assistance with his espionage activities."