Lou Adler (born December 13, 1933) is an American record producer, manager, and director.
Born in Chicago, Illinois and raised in East Los Angeles, Adler grew up in a mixed Jewish/Mexican family. In 1964, Adler founded and co-owned Dunhill Records. He was President of the label as well as the chief record producer from 1964 to 1967. That summer he sold Dunhill for three million dollars to ABC Records. Later in 1967, he founded Ode Records. In June 1967, Adler helped to produce the Monterey International Pop Festival, as well as the film version, Monterey Pop.
He is the former manager of Jan & Dean, and was the producer of Sam Cooke, The Mamas & the Papas, Johnny Rivers, Barry McGuire, Scott McKenzie, Spirit, Carole King, The Weaver Temptations (which he signed in 1968) and Cheech and Chong. In 1974, he helped to produce the American stage version of The Rocky Horror Show as well as the film version, The Rocky Horror Picture Show. In 1978, Adler directed the movie Up In Smoke, starring Cheech & Chong. The movie remains a cult hit, and in 2000 Adler recorded a commentary track along with Cheech Marin for the DVD release. His 1981 followup film, Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains, was barely released, but enjoyed a long life on cable TV broadcasts.
He has won two Grammy Awards in 1972 in the Record of the Year category for producing It's Too Late by Carole King and in the Album of the Year category for Tapestry (also by King).
Lou Adler was married to actress and singer Shelley Fabares in 1964 and produced several of her songs. They separated in 1966 but were not formally divorced until 1980.
In 1978, Adler fathered a son, Cisco Adler, with then-girlfriend Phyllis Somer.
Today, Adler is married to Page Hannah, the younger sister of actress Daryl Hannah. The couple have sons named Manny, Ike, Pablo, and Oscar.
Lou Adler is the owner of The Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood, California.
He has annual courtside season tickets to the Lakers at the Staples Center, sitting next to Jack Nicholson
Peter Fonda partly based his character Terry Valentine in The Limey on Adler, according to Fonda's interview on the DVD. He is also the uncle of former Guns N' Roses drummer Stephen Adler.
From Wikipedia
