His career in music began as co-manager, alongside Herb Alpert, of Jan & Dean. Adler and Alpert transitioned from managing into songwriting, composing the songs "River Rock" in 1958 for Bob "Froggy" Landers and The Cough Drops and "Wonderful World" with Sam Cooke.[10][11]
Capitalizing on Dunhill's success, Adler sold the label to ABC in 1967 and founded Ode Records, to which he signed Carole King, Spirit, Cheech & Chong, Scott McKenzie, Peggy Lipton, and others. Adler produced all of King's albums on Ode, which include four gold, one platinum, and one diamond album, as certified by the RIAA. King's second album for Ode, Tapestry, sold more than 25 million copies worldwide, and is considered one of the greatest albums of all time.[2][3][4][5] Adler's work on Tapestry garnered him two Grammy Awards in 1972: Record of the Year (for producing "It's Too Late") and Album of the Year.
After Monterey Pop, Adler and Phillips teamed up again to produce the 1970 Robert Altman film Brewster McCloud.[15] In 1975, Adler served as executive producer of the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show.[8] After seeing The Rocky Horror Show at a theater in London, Adler bought the American rights to the show, presented it live in Los Angeles, and executive-produced the film version (adding "Picture" to the title). The movie went on to become the longest-running theatrical film in history.[6][7]
In 1978, Adler directed the movie Up in Smoke, starring Cheech & Chong.[8] The movie remains a cult hit, and in 2000 Adler and Cheech Marin recorded a commentary track for the DVD release. His 1981 film, Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains,[8] did not make a large impact upon release but has enjoyed a long life on cable TV broadcasts. Also in 1981, Adler executive produced the follow-up to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Shock Treatment.
Personal life
Adler was born to a Jewish family, the son of Manny and Josephine (Alpert) Adler,[16] in Chicago, Illinois, in 1933 and raised in the Boyle Heights section of Los Angeles, California. He married actress and singer Shelley Fabares in 1964[17] and produced several of her songs. They separated in 1966 and formally divorced in 1980. In 1973, he fathered his first son, Nic Adler, with actress Britt Ekland. In 1978, he fathered another son, Cisco Adler, with then-girlfriend Phyllis Somer.[18] In the 1980s, his son Sonny was born from a brief relationship.[16] Today, Adler is married to former actress Page Hannah, three decades his junior. The couple has four sons: Manny, Ike, Pablo, and Oscar.[19]
In 1976, Adler and his administrative assistant were kidnapped from their Malibu home. One of the perpetrators pulled a gun on Adler's assistant and gained entry. The two men were held for eight hours and released after $25,000 in ransom money was paid. Three suspects were arrested and sheriff's deputies later recovered $14,900 of the ransom.[23] Two suspects were later convicted and one was sentenced to life in prison.[24]