Faber snaps up Tony King memoir

Faber has pre-empted music industry veteran Tony King’s memoir on a nine-minute video submission. 

Publishing director Alexa von Hirschberg pre-empted world all-languages rights from Robert Caskie based on a nine-minute video submission rather than the standard written proposal. The as yet unititled memoir will be published in 2023. 

Caskie told The Bookseller of the unusual submission process: "I have never done a video submission before and don't think anyone else has in this context. It was exciting to be innovative and unique."

“Confidante and creative muse for some of the world’s greatest artists, including Elton John, Freddie Mercury and John Lennon, Tony King has a story unlike any other,” Faber said. “For over six decades, Tony King has been at the beating heart of the most iconic musical moments and this story will be essential reading.” 

“He started his 61-year career in the music business in 1958 at Decca Records. At 19, he became the youngest promotion man of the time and looked after visiting American artists such as Roy Orbison, Brenda Lee, the Ronettes and their svengali producer Phil Spector. 

“After setting up Immediate Records with the Rolling Stones’ manager, Andrew Loog Oldham, Tony was approached by Sir George Martin’s independent production company to do promotion for his artists and others in the company produced by his co-partners—among them Cilla Black, the Hollies, Manfred Mann, Tom Jones and the Beatles. In 1970 he joined the Beatles’ Apple Records as general manager.” 

He continued to work with the Beatles, pulling together both the album "Ringo" with Ringo Starr and "Mind Games" with John Lennon, before becoming executive vice-president of Elton John’s label, Rocket. He stayed with Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones for almost 30 years and, since 2011, has worked as John's creative director, among many other things.