Quick Facts
Biography
Simon "Si" Waronker (1915 – June 7, 2005) was a violinist and record producer from Los Angeles, California. Graduating from high school at 13 years old, he won a scholarship to study music in France.
Waronker began to establish his music career in Germany, but was forced to return to the U.S. when Nazi Party members began to threaten Jews. From 1939 to 1955, Waronker recorded music for 20th Century Fox films. He then chose to enter the music industry independently, co-founding Liberty Records and serving as its chairman. The first artist he signed was popular singer Julie London.
One of the major acts who recorded on Liberty Records was The Chipmunks, actually Ross Bagdasarian, who recorded as David Seville. Seville named The Chipmunks (Alvin, Simon, and Theodore) after Liberty Records executives Alvin Bennett, Simon Waronker, and Theodore Keep, respectively.
In 1963, facing health problems, Waronker sold his interest in Liberty to the electronics firm Avnet.
Record producer Lenny Waronker is Simon's son. His three grandchildren include musicians Joey Waronker, Anna Waronker and fashion buyer Katherine Waronker.