Richard Nader
Richard Nader was a disk jockey and the entertainment promoter who pushed the concept of oldies mainstream, beginning with his first Rock and Roll Revival concert October 18, 1969, featuring Chuck Berry, The Platters, Bill Haley and the Comets, The Shirelles, The Coasters, Jimmy Clanton, and Sha Na Na.
Nader began as a disc jockey in high school, continuing in Korea over Armed Forces Radio while in the U.S. Army.
He joined the Premier Talent Agency where he arranged bookings for The Who, The Animals, Herman's Hermits, The Beau Brummels, and The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown. Frustrated with the British Invasion's impact on many of the artists he promoted, he left in order to begin promoting concerts featuring acts from the fifteen years of rock and roll.
Despite skepticism from the music industry and the musical artists themselves, Nader sold out nearly all his concerts and produced a documentary film based on the concerts, Let the Good Times Roll. His efforts led directly to oldies radio in the 1980s and proved the commercial value of nostalgia.
Artists featured at Nader concerts
- The Angels
- Chuck Berry
- Willie Bobo
- Gary U.S. Bonds
- Freddy Cannon
- The Capris
- The Chantels
- Chubby Checker
- Lou Christie
- Jimmy Clanton
- The Cleftones
- The Coasters
- Bobby Comstock
- Joe Cuba
- Danny and the Juniors
- Bo Diddley
- Dion and The Belmonts
- Fats Domino
- The Dovells
- The Drifters
- The Earls
- Little Eva
- The Exciters
- The Flamingos
- Fabian Forte
- Five Satins
- Lesley Gore
- Bill Haley and the Comets
- The Harptones
- Brenda Lee
- Jerry Lee Lewis
- Johnny Maestro of The Brooklyn Bridge
- Johnny Mathis
- Bill Medley
- The Moonglows
- Rick Nelson
- The Orlons
- Eddie Palmieri
- The Penguins
- Carl Perkins
- The Platters
- Lloyd Price
- Tito Puente
- Little Richard
- Ruby and the Romantics
- Bobby Rydell
- Sha Na Na
- Shep and the Limelights
- The Shirelles
- Shirley and Lee
- The Supremes
- Little Anthony and the Imperials
- Ronnie Spector of The Ronettes
- The Skyliners
- The Del-Vikings
- The Mello-Kings
- Jay and the Americans
- Jackie Wilson
- Wolfman Jack
- Chuck Jackson
- Tommy James and the Shondells
- Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
- Bobby Vee
- Billy Vera
- Gene Vincent
- Timi Yuro