Primary Wave Music, the leading independent publisher of iconic and legendary music in the world, announces today their partnership with the estate of the iconic songwriter P.F. Sloan. Terms of the deal will see the publishing giant acquire Sloan’s publishing and writer’s share, as well as his master royalty income. Sloan wrote, performed, and produced a number of top 20 hits for artists across all genres of music. The singer and songwriter worked with everyone from Barry McGuire to Herman’s Hermits to the Mamas and the Papas.
Included in the multi-million-dollar deal are some of Sloan’s biggest hits including the number one, protest hit “Eve of Destruction,” the critically acclaimed and top ten hit “A Must To Avoid,” The Turtles’ hit “You Baby” which spent twelve weeks on Billboard’s Hot 100, as well as “Secret Agent Man” which was famously recorded by Johnny Rivers and used as the theme song for the television show Secret Agent which aired in the States in the 60s. The song shot to number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and went on to be covered by everyone from Devo to Blues Traveler to Bruce Willis who recorded a version of the song for his debut album The Return of Bruno. “Secret Agent Man” has also seen a number of incredible sync placements since it was released, including featured placement in the two box office topping films, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls.
Terms of the deal will also give the estate access to Primary Wave’s marketing team and publishing infrastructure, which includes digital strategy, licensing, synch opportunities, and film & TV production.
Jeremy Rosen, Stephen Feinberg, and Jered Cargman, who represent the P.F. Sloan Estate, shared in a joint statement, “Phil didn’t go to parties, he wrote songs. He was in every shop in town and all at once. That’s Phil’s opening on ‘California Dreamin.’ That’s Phil’s falsetto on ‘Little Old Lady From Pasadena.’ From ‘Eve of Destruction’ to ‘Secret Agent Man,’ his songs will live forever. Some say he was a genius. We do.”
“I think Jeremy, Stephen and Jered said it best when they said PF was in every shop in town and all at once,” said Samantha Rhulen, Senior Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs. She goes on, “Everyone has heard a PF Sloan song whether they know it or not. His songs are timeless, and we’re honored to continue his legacy and ensure that his incredible catalog is recognized by generations to come.
P.F. Sloan was a legendary songwriter and performer, and one of the most elusive and mysterious geniuses to emerge from the mid-1960’s Los Angeles music scene. Born Philip Gary Schlein in 1945 New York, he moved to California with his family in the 1950’s. He recorded his first single, “All I Want Is Loving”, at the age of fourteen for the R&B label, Aladdin.
He wrote and played (often along with his writing partner, Steve Barri) for the most popular musical acts of the day, including Herman’s Hermits, The Turtles, The Mamas & the Papas, Johnny Rivers, The Grass Roots, Barry McGuire, Jan & Dean, and Ann-Margret. Phil’s “Eve of Destruction” was a #1 hit in 1965, and a major worldwide success—as relevant today as when it was written. “Secret Agent Man," composed by Phil and Steve Barri, remains one of the most iconic tunes to arise from that brief wonderful moment in rock ’n’ roll history.
Phil continued to write and perform until his death in 2015.
