Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

Tone deaf, he had the ear of top-of-chart musicians

By STEPHANIE HAYES, Times Staff Writer
Published January 17, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT [Family photo] Robert Sarenpa worked for Mercury Records in the 60s and 70s. His job was to make the artists happy and keep them on the label. He died Monday at age 77.

SOUTH PASADENA - Robert Sarenpa could drop names to blow your mind.

Quincy Jones. Smokey Robinson. Ray Charles. Stevie Wonder. Janis Joplin.

Mr. Sarenpa was vice president of artists and repertoire for Mercury Records in the 1960s and '70s. His job? To keep the talent happy.

He was the middleman for artists and the industry. He'd help launch careers. He'd sway other artists to his label. He'd court radio stations to play his people's music. He had a rock star life. But didn't he ever want to be one?

"Dad was tone deaf," said his daughter, Michelle Dolak. "The joke was always who would have to sit next to him at church."

* * *

It wasn't always glamorous.

After getting out of the Air Force, Mr. Sarenpa took a job selling records for RCA. He traveled the country, knocking on doors in the dead of winter.

Later, he formed his own record company, his family said. He met Irving Green, founder of Mercury records, who lured him to Hollywood, they said.

Mr. Sarenpa was a big schmoozer. He could get things done. He helped comedians record on vinyl. He got to know Carol Channing and Bob Newhart. Once, his family said, Mr. Sarenpa saw a mob guy threaten Frank Sinatra backstage in Vegas.

Later in life, he'd recall his stories, laughing, scotch in hand.

* * *

Sunday was for church and football. But Saturday was for socializing. He was a family man, but he still wanted to have a good time. Sometimes, he'd even ask his youngest daughter, Tasha, to go out on the town with him.

In retirement, Mr. Sarenpa lived in South Pasadena. He read the newspaper cover to cover every day. He frequented the Central Avenue Oyster Bar and Leverocks, where he'd spar with friends about local politics.

He worked part time at the Renaissance Vinoy Golf Club. He was the starter and marshal, setting people up at the tee and patrolling the course to keep the pace.

He reveled in the golf course, and the game. So wasn't he a great golfer?

"That's the big joke. On a good day, he'd shoot a 97," said Dolak, 42. "He knew he was bad."

* * *

He was robust and active until November, when he became ill with the autoimmune disease Wegener's granulomatosis. Mr. Sarenpa died Monday. He was 77.

In May, Dolak is expecting what would have been her father's first grandchild, a baby boy to be named Robert who will learn a lot about rock 'n' roll.

Stephanie Hayes can be reached at shayes@sptimes.com or 727 893-8857.

BIOGRAPHY

Robert Sarenpa

Born: April 9, 1930.

Died: Jan. 13, 2008.

Survivors: wife, Tamara; children, Tasha Sarenpa, Steve Sarenpa and Michelle Dolak.

[Last modified January 17, 2008, 00:55:08]