Seth R. Greenky
- Manager
- Director
- Actor
Seth was born in Manhattan's Flower Fifth Avenue hospital, the son of Alfred (a salesman for the company that made labels for the inside of your clothing (i.e.: Fruit of the Loom was his biggest client)), and a future elementary school teacher, Adele Grace Greenky, and the younger brother to Jack Greenky.
From the age of three, he begged for a piano, literally first thing in the morning and last thing as he was put to bed. At seven-and-a-half he finally got an old upright piano (then considered junk, now a beloved and beautiful antique) and began lessons. By the time he was 12 Seth played 8 instruments proficiently. As a child, his favorite "toy" was a Wollensach tape recorder where he would record songs and DJs off the radio and, with nobody showing him, would "punch in" for comedic effect. He joined his first band in high school, "The Castaways," followed by "The Agents." He was the organist. While at Monmouth University he started recording his original songs, as well as other people, at his friend's recording studio in Belmar, NJ. It was while he was recording some of his own songs that Bruce Springsteen's then-drummer, "Buzzy", had come into the engineer's booth in anticipation of his own recording session. He saw Seth play many instruments, running around from piano, organ, drums, guitar, bass, vibraphones, as well as laying down harmonies to his own vocals. After Seth completed his session and was about to leave, Buzzy tapped him on the shoulder and said he had a girl vocal group coming in and their bass player couldn't make it and would he do him a favor and play bass on the tracks. Seth, always happy to make music, was happy to oblige. Seth knew a couple of fancy bass riffs that made him seem better than he was from a session a couple of years earlier when his band, The Shape of Thyngs, was being produced for legendary independent label, Old Town Records, by Bobby Lance ("The House That Jack Built"). Although Seth was the organ player for his group, he watched Bobby demonstrate some lines he wanted their bass player to play. By watching, he easily learned those lines. So, he threw them in on Buzzy's session. Seth didn't even own his own bass. He was using the studio's bass. So, as he was about leave after the end of Buzzy's session, he was again tapped on the shoulder. Buzzy told him he was the drummer for Bruce's band. "You know who I mean when I say Bruce, right?, asked Buzzy. Well, even then Bruce was a local star with record companies sniffing around him. All the locals knew he was bound for stardom. Buzzy continued that they were looking for a new bass player and invited Seth to audition. Seth said he'd do it. The next day (after borrowing the studio's bass) he went to a house in Neptune, New Jersey. He knocked on the door. Years before the movie, "Up In Smoke" by Cheech and Chong, the door opened and smoke came billowing out. Buzzy did not know it but Seth was (and remains) anti-Drug. Well, he was already there but Seth's mind was made up. This was not a band he'd be joining, even if they wanted him, no matter who was the band's leader or how big they might get. So, he turned his head, took one last, deep breath of fresh air and walked in, holding his breath for as long as he could. The smoke was so thick it took him until he was half-way across the living room before he saw Bruce, leaning against the wall. "Plug in. Let's jam," said Bruce. So, Seth played a couple of blues tunes with Bruce and his band, throwing in those two fancy bass runs at tasteful times. It made him seem better than he was. LOL. Having been put through his paces Buzzy approached him and said, 'would ya mind waiting outside? We want to talk about you." As Seth left the house to wait outside on the other side of the door, he took his first deep breaths of clean, fresh might air. Whoosh! But, his mind was made up. He wasn't going to join, no matter what. In a minute, Buzzy came out. He said, "Bruce digs you and thinks you're cool. You're in." Seth replied, "uhhh, no thank you." As he was turning to walk back to his car he caught Buzzy's expression of total shock as his jaw nearly hit the floor. Nobody, said no to Bruce. But, Seth did and has never regretted his decision.
The next year, Seth became vice-president of a small NYC based record company and his name on the door at 1650 Broadway before he was 21. He had already been producing other people in NYC recording studios from the age of 19.
He worked with famed record producer Jerry Ross ("Apple, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie" by Jay & The Techniques; ""Sunny" by Bobby Hebb," "Venus" by Shocking Blue, more) who served as Executive Producer and let Seth record a group he'd discovered in a Jersey City bar at Bell Sound Studios (where, years later, he later became house producer and sales manager), and apprenticed under Hy Weiss, to whom he was signed at the age of 18 at Oldtown Records. When Seth was 22, the VP of Sceptre Records offered Seth his own Album deal. Knowing he did not know enough (business-wise), he asked his old mentor, Hy Weiss, to be his manager. Hy did not like the contract because they wanted Seth's publishing. Hy did not negotiate. He simply turned it down telling Seth he'd have plenty of offers later. Well, there were about 6 other times Seth could have become a known commodity (or, has-been), but different circumstances just made them close calls. But, Seth remained active as a record producer (and performer) that led him to personal management.
Seth lived in Manhattan for decades. He is now bi-coastal and is president of Green Key Management, LLC. Since graduating from Monmouth University, Seth has been a touring and signed recording musician (rock, pop & R&B) with a couple of bands as well as a solo pop act. He has been a songwriter and record producer including for the legendary R&B artist, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, among others. Later on he became the sales manager for the famous Bell Sound Studios and staff record producer for Bell Sound Productions in New York City. He left Bell to become a studio time broker for most major New York recording studios and record companies, formed Green Key Music (ASCAP) and began managing as well as producing.
Seth has been a full-time Personal Manager for decades and has been a member of the National Conference of Personal Managers (NCOPM) since 1987. In 2003 Seth had the honor of being elected to the NCOPM's East Coast Board of Directors. He is now representing actors for film and television and changed his focus from musicians to actors.
Some of Seth's clients include an EMMY WINNER, two other EMMY NOMINEES, a BROADWAY STAR, who is the only person who has played both lead roles in "Les Miz," a MISS UNIVERSE, a MISS RUSSIA, and an R&B LEGEND, among other notables.
While attending to his managerial duties, Seth has been developing several different projects that are, in some part, inspired by, or for, his clients.
SETH'S project, "THE HARLEM ANGELS," was accepted by the New York City School System as a RESOURCE FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS. His project for COLLIN CHRISTOPHER, "INHERITING WILLY" is a work-in-progress.
Seth has clients both in Los Angeles and New York whose recent work includes starring roles in PrimeTime and DayTime TV and TV series regulars, TV pilots, commercials, feature films, DVDs and voice overs. Seth is known for his stealth-like tenacity and loyalty to his clients. He loves the fact that every day brings new opportunities for his clients. "If it's not fun, you shouldn't do it."
From the age of three, he begged for a piano, literally first thing in the morning and last thing as he was put to bed. At seven-and-a-half he finally got an old upright piano (then considered junk, now a beloved and beautiful antique) and began lessons. By the time he was 12 Seth played 8 instruments proficiently. As a child, his favorite "toy" was a Wollensach tape recorder where he would record songs and DJs off the radio and, with nobody showing him, would "punch in" for comedic effect. He joined his first band in high school, "The Castaways," followed by "The Agents." He was the organist. While at Monmouth University he started recording his original songs, as well as other people, at his friend's recording studio in Belmar, NJ. It was while he was recording some of his own songs that Bruce Springsteen's then-drummer, "Buzzy", had come into the engineer's booth in anticipation of his own recording session. He saw Seth play many instruments, running around from piano, organ, drums, guitar, bass, vibraphones, as well as laying down harmonies to his own vocals. After Seth completed his session and was about to leave, Buzzy tapped him on the shoulder and said he had a girl vocal group coming in and their bass player couldn't make it and would he do him a favor and play bass on the tracks. Seth, always happy to make music, was happy to oblige. Seth knew a couple of fancy bass riffs that made him seem better than he was from a session a couple of years earlier when his band, The Shape of Thyngs, was being produced for legendary independent label, Old Town Records, by Bobby Lance ("The House That Jack Built"). Although Seth was the organ player for his group, he watched Bobby demonstrate some lines he wanted their bass player to play. By watching, he easily learned those lines. So, he threw them in on Buzzy's session. Seth didn't even own his own bass. He was using the studio's bass. So, as he was about leave after the end of Buzzy's session, he was again tapped on the shoulder. Buzzy told him he was the drummer for Bruce's band. "You know who I mean when I say Bruce, right?, asked Buzzy. Well, even then Bruce was a local star with record companies sniffing around him. All the locals knew he was bound for stardom. Buzzy continued that they were looking for a new bass player and invited Seth to audition. Seth said he'd do it. The next day (after borrowing the studio's bass) he went to a house in Neptune, New Jersey. He knocked on the door. Years before the movie, "Up In Smoke" by Cheech and Chong, the door opened and smoke came billowing out. Buzzy did not know it but Seth was (and remains) anti-Drug. Well, he was already there but Seth's mind was made up. This was not a band he'd be joining, even if they wanted him, no matter who was the band's leader or how big they might get. So, he turned his head, took one last, deep breath of fresh air and walked in, holding his breath for as long as he could. The smoke was so thick it took him until he was half-way across the living room before he saw Bruce, leaning against the wall. "Plug in. Let's jam," said Bruce. So, Seth played a couple of blues tunes with Bruce and his band, throwing in those two fancy bass runs at tasteful times. It made him seem better than he was. LOL. Having been put through his paces Buzzy approached him and said, 'would ya mind waiting outside? We want to talk about you." As Seth left the house to wait outside on the other side of the door, he took his first deep breaths of clean, fresh might air. Whoosh! But, his mind was made up. He wasn't going to join, no matter what. In a minute, Buzzy came out. He said, "Bruce digs you and thinks you're cool. You're in." Seth replied, "uhhh, no thank you." As he was turning to walk back to his car he caught Buzzy's expression of total shock as his jaw nearly hit the floor. Nobody, said no to Bruce. But, Seth did and has never regretted his decision.
The next year, Seth became vice-president of a small NYC based record company and his name on the door at 1650 Broadway before he was 21. He had already been producing other people in NYC recording studios from the age of 19.
He worked with famed record producer Jerry Ross ("Apple, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie" by Jay & The Techniques; ""Sunny" by Bobby Hebb," "Venus" by Shocking Blue, more) who served as Executive Producer and let Seth record a group he'd discovered in a Jersey City bar at Bell Sound Studios (where, years later, he later became house producer and sales manager), and apprenticed under Hy Weiss, to whom he was signed at the age of 18 at Oldtown Records. When Seth was 22, the VP of Sceptre Records offered Seth his own Album deal. Knowing he did not know enough (business-wise), he asked his old mentor, Hy Weiss, to be his manager. Hy did not like the contract because they wanted Seth's publishing. Hy did not negotiate. He simply turned it down telling Seth he'd have plenty of offers later. Well, there were about 6 other times Seth could have become a known commodity (or, has-been), but different circumstances just made them close calls. But, Seth remained active as a record producer (and performer) that led him to personal management.
Seth lived in Manhattan for decades. He is now bi-coastal and is president of Green Key Management, LLC. Since graduating from Monmouth University, Seth has been a touring and signed recording musician (rock, pop & R&B) with a couple of bands as well as a solo pop act. He has been a songwriter and record producer including for the legendary R&B artist, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, among others. Later on he became the sales manager for the famous Bell Sound Studios and staff record producer for Bell Sound Productions in New York City. He left Bell to become a studio time broker for most major New York recording studios and record companies, formed Green Key Music (ASCAP) and began managing as well as producing.
Seth has been a full-time Personal Manager for decades and has been a member of the National Conference of Personal Managers (NCOPM) since 1987. In 2003 Seth had the honor of being elected to the NCOPM's East Coast Board of Directors. He is now representing actors for film and television and changed his focus from musicians to actors.
Some of Seth's clients include an EMMY WINNER, two other EMMY NOMINEES, a BROADWAY STAR, who is the only person who has played both lead roles in "Les Miz," a MISS UNIVERSE, a MISS RUSSIA, and an R&B LEGEND, among other notables.
While attending to his managerial duties, Seth has been developing several different projects that are, in some part, inspired by, or for, his clients.
SETH'S project, "THE HARLEM ANGELS," was accepted by the New York City School System as a RESOURCE FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS. His project for COLLIN CHRISTOPHER, "INHERITING WILLY" is a work-in-progress.
Seth has clients both in Los Angeles and New York whose recent work includes starring roles in PrimeTime and DayTime TV and TV series regulars, TV pilots, commercials, feature films, DVDs and voice overs. Seth is known for his stealth-like tenacity and loyalty to his clients. He loves the fact that every day brings new opportunities for his clients. "If it's not fun, you shouldn't do it."
