Bob Leone from New York City, obtained
a graduate degree in Psychology from the City University of New York. In the 1970s, he played keyboards and was the primary songwriter in the band Flame.
Between 1981 and 1988, Bob was the National Projects Director for the Songwriters Guild of America (SGA) and also became the National Projects Director for the prestigious the Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) and its parent organization, The National Academy of Popular Music (NAPM). For eighteen years he worked with literally thousands of artists, producing and hosting 59 Artist Showcases, coordinating more than 250 songwriting workshops, and hosting innumerable open mics and networking meetings featuring top music industry professionals. In 2006 he became the first manager of the singer now known as Lady Gaga.
In 2012 he formed Bob Leone Artist Management.
Full biography about Bob Leone
Bob Leone was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, where he currently lives. In the late '70s & early '80s, he played in the rock band Flame. The band was formed in 1975 and featured Janis Joplin-styled vocalist Marge Raymond. Bob was Flame's keyboardist and one of the principal songwriters. Other band members included John Paul Fetta(bass), Frank Ruby (rhythm guitar), Thommy Price (drums) and Jimmy Crespo (lead guitarist). Crespo would later join Aerosmith replacing Joe Perry for a few years.
Flame released two albums on RCA Records: Queen of the Neighborhood in 1977 (Bob co-wrote the title track) and a self-titled album in 1978. The first album featured contributions by the late legendary vocalist Luther Vandross and Bruce Springsteen E Street band members Steven Van Zandt and the late Clarence Clemmons.
Flame was formed by the legendary Jimmy Iovine, a childhood friend of Bob's. He and Iovine grew up just a few houses apart in Brooklyn and played on the same softball team. They even played in a band together (Chazz) prior to Flame. Jimmy was the bass guitarist and Bob played Hammond B3 organ. Flame was the first band that Iovine ever produced. He also co-managed the band; another first for him. When Iovine decided in 1976 that he wanted a keyboard player in Flame, he called Bob and offered him the job. In 1990, Iovine formed Interscope Records. He signed Lady Gaga to his label in 2007 and Lana Dey Rey in 2011, both of whom were closely connected to Bob during the early stages of their careers.
Between 1981 and 1988, Bob was the National Projects Director for the Songwriters Guild of America (SGA). In 1988, he became the National Projects Director for the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) and its parent organization, the National Academy of Popular Music (NAPM), in which position he remained until 2006. During his 18-year tenure at SHOF, Bob worked with literally thousands of artists. He produced and hosted 59 Artist Showcases, coordinated more than 250 songwriting workshops & hosted innumerable open mics & networking meetings featuring top music industry professionals.
It was at one of these open mics in 2001 that Bob discovered 14-year-old Lady GaGa, who was then performing as Stefani Germanotta. Stefani also took a SHOF songwriting workshop at that time. Bob immediately recognized her great talent and knew that she would become an international superstar. On March 9th, 2006, following one of her solo performances at The Bitter End in Manhattan's Greenwich Village, Stefani asked Bob to be her first personal manager.
One of the first actions Bob took on GaGa's behalf was to feature her in a SHOF showcase that same month. That showcase led directly to her meeting Rob Fusari, who became her first producer. Their work together resulted in GaGa being signed to her first major label deal by L.A. Reid, then head of Island Records. After GaGa was inexplcably dropped by the label, she was signed by Interscope Records, for which she still records today.
Following a much-publicized auction in 2010, Bob's early involvement with GaGa became known worldwide. As a direct result, he was deemed "The Most Famous Manager in the World." When GaGa's fans heard about his connection to their idol, Bob was deluged with requests from hundreds of young artists worlwide who wanted him to be their manager. However, Bob was not interested at that time in continuing his role as a personal manager.
Bob is extremely proud to have discovered pop superstar Lana Del Rey on January 31st, 2006 at a chance meeting at the legendary Manhattan music venue, The Bitter End. Lana, who was only 21 at the time, was not performing that night, but she introduced herself to Bob and this led to her performing privately for him two weeks later. Lana was then performing as Lizzy Grant, her birth name. Bob immediately saw her enormous potential, although she was very raw at that time, his unfailing instincts told him that she would become an international superstar one day. His instincts were right on target. Lana's second album, Ultraviolence, debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts in June 2014.
As Lana's mentor, he paid for a SHOF songwriting workshop for her. It was during that ten-week workshop that Lana's songwriting skills were sharply honed. Bob also featured Lana, as Lizzy Grant, in two artist showcases that he produced. The first was held on June 22nd, 2006. The second took place on April 6th, 2007. She signed a recording deal with Interscope Records in October 2011.
Bob founded Bob Leone Artist Management, through which he currently manages international artists Daiana Segovia and Roberta Simonen.
This biography was written by Mathieu Deflem & Bob Leone.
1963 -- Formed his first band, Bobby and the Oasis, at the age of 14.
1964 to 1968 -- Keyboardist & backup vocalist for the award-winning cover band, The Moondogs.
1970 -- Graduated from St. Francis College, Magna Cum Laude, with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology.
1970 to 1972 -- Awarded a prestigious National Education Act (NEA) Fellowship, Bob was admitted to the City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center's program in Educational Psychology with a specialization in cognitive development.
1972 to 1976 -- Administrative Director of the Congress of Italian American Organization's (CIAO) Day Care Center in Brooklyn, New York. This was the first Italian American day care center in New York City. It became a model for other day care centers throughout the city.
1976 to 1981 -- Keyboardist, backup vocalist and principal songwriter for the RCA Records rock band Flame. The band's two albums were produced by Jimmy Iovine, who also co-managed the band.
1981 to 1986 -- Keyboardist and principal songwriter for the Pam Johnson Project.
1981 to 1988 -- National Projects Director of the Songwriters Guild of America (SGA). Bob was responsible for all membership activities and services. He coordinated and taught songwriting workshops and hosted weekly song critiques. Bob also hosted bi-weekly Ask-A-Pro sessions, for which he booked music industry professionals, such as music publishers, record company executives, record producers, representatives of all three performing rights organizations (BMI, ASCAP and SESAC), artist managers, entertainment attorneys, promoters, booking agents, public relations executives, successful songwriters and musical artists, all of whom offered advice, support and guidance about breaking into the music business.
1988 to 2006 -- National Projects Director of the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) and its parent organization, the National Academy of Popular Music (NAPM). As membership director, Bob created programs that educated, promoted and generally benefited aspiring artists and non-performing songwriters. As a direct result of these activities and services NAPM's membership tripled within one year.
In his 18 years at SHOF/NAPM, Bob produced and hosted 59 standing-room-only Songwriter Showcases, more than 250 songwriting workshops (beginner, advanced and master levels) and hundreds of open mics and networking meetings, the model for which were SGA's Ask-A-Pro sessions. Among the thousands of artists and songwriters who participated in these activities were international superstars Lady GaGa and Lana Del Rey. Each of these highly-acclaimed artists participated in SHOF/NAPM songwriting workshops and each was featured in two SHOF/NAPM Songwriter Showcases in 2006 and 2007. He was also the coordinator of SHOF/NAPM's Abe Olman Songwriter Scholarship program, among whose recipients was platinum-selling recording artist John Legend (then John Stephens).
Bob video-interviewed on the red carpet over 100 entertainment industry superstars at SHOF's Annual Awards Ceremonies. Among those Bob interviewed were Stevie Wonder, Sting, Brian Wilson, Joni Mitchell, Keith Richard, Paul McCartney, Carole King, members of Queen, Smokey Robinson, Pink, James Brown, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Phil Collins, Whitney Houston, John Denver, Marc Anthony, John Fogerty, Dave Matthews, Liza Minnelli, Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20),Alicia Keys, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Ray Charles, Barry Manilow, Lionel Richie, Cyndi Lauper & Idina Menzel, Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson and many great non-performing songwriters.
2006 -- Accepted an offer by Lady GaGa to be her first personal manager. Bob met GaGa (Stefani Germanotta) at the age of 14 when she performed with his encouragement at one of his open mics. Bob was Stefani's mentor throughout her teen years. During the time that he was her manager, Stefani signed her first production deal (with Rob Fusari) and was signed by L.A. Reid to major label Island Records. After being dropped by Island, GaGa was signed to Interscope Records by its founder, Jimmy Iovine. The same now-legendary Jimmy Iovine who produced and co-managed Flame with whom Bob recorded and performed in the late '70s
2006 -- Bob met Lana Del Rey (Lizzy Grant) at the legendary Greenwich Village music venue, The Bitter End. Two weeks later, Lizzy played two of her songs for Bob and he immediately knew that she would be a huge star. He became her close friend and mentor. As fate would have it, in 2011, Lana, like GaGa, was signed to Interscope Records by Jimmy Iovine. Her second album, Ultraviolence, debuted at #1 on the Billboard charts in June 2014.
Bob is currently the CEO/Founder of Bob Leone Artist Management. In March 2013, he signed artist/songwriter Daiana Segovia. Six months later, in September 2013, he signed artist/songwriter Roberta Simonen. Bob is highly optimistic that both of his artists will become superstars as did Lana Del Rey and Lady GaGa.