Matthew King Kaufman

Producer Matthew King Kaufman was the founder of Beserkley Records, one of the seminal American independent labels of the 1970s. A native of Baltimore, he later relocated to Berkeley, California, founding Beserkley there in 1973 with the goal of resurrecting the three-minute 45 rpm single in an era dominated by album-oriented radio airplay and chart sales. Kaufman's first signing was the San Francisco band Earthquake, who scored a local hit with their cover of the Easybeats' classic "Friday on My Mind." The label released nothing but singles until 1975, finally issuing the group's full-length Rockin' the World due to popular demand. In 1976, Kaufman signed Beserkley's best-known act, Greg Kihn, who debuted that year with a self-titled effort. A year later, he also brought aboard the legendary Jonathan Richman, who quickly scored a Top Five U.K. smash with the single "Egyptian Reggae"; that same year, the Rubinoos also reached the lower rungs of the U.S. charts with their cover of Tommy James' "I Think We're Alone Now," giving Beserkley its first domestic chart hit. In 1983 Kaufman helmed Kihn's LP Kihnspiracy, generating the single "Jeopardy," which reached the number two spot on the American charts; its success was Beserkley's commercial apex, however -- by this time Richman was no longer on the roster, and the Rubinoos were in the process of suing Kaufman for mismanagement. He closed the label's doors a few years later, resurfacing during the mid-1990s with Son of Beserkley, a company devoted to re-releasing classic material. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide