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Frank Fenter (February 25 1936 - July 21 1983) was a music industry executive.

Frank Fenter was a impresario, music manager, record executive , record label owner, actor and record and film producer. He was Atlantic Records first Managing Director for Europe, was co-founder of Capricorn Records, the label that helped define and popularize a new genre of music called Southern rock. Frank Fenter was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and moved to London, England, in 1958, initially determined to become an actor. Mr.Fenter's acting career included a feature role in the BBC cult classic, The Big Pull of 1963 and, in 1964, he produced, co-wrote and acted in Africa Shakes, the first South African Rock movie that featured Mr. Fenter's music act, Bill Kimber and the Couriers. The movie was also the first to have a inter-racial cast in Apartheid South Africa.

While doing part time acting in the early 1960's, Mr.Fenter began to book bands, including The Rolling Stones, The Animals and Manfred Mann, around London and at the Crawdaddy Club owned by his very good friend,Giorgio Gomelsky, former Yardbirds manager, long before they had recording contracts. Mr. Fenter got his first big break in the music industry, in 1964, when he joined Chapell Music Publishing co., to head Liberty-Imperial Record Publishing and later ARC/Chess Music, which included songs by such artists as Chuck Berry.

In 1966, Frank Fenter was chosen by Atlantic Record President of International, Nesuhi Ertegün, to head the label in the United Kingdom, were he had also brought the singer,Sharon Tandy, over from South Africa, who later became the first white artist to record for Stax Records. Within six months, Frank Fenter was at Atlantic Record's helm for all of Europe in the capacity of Managing Director. Mr. Fenter was responsible for making Atlantic Records the most important United States label in promoting British music, according to the late Ahmet Ertegun, co-founder and Chairman of Atlantic Records. Mr. Fenter discovered and had a vital role in bringing such British groups Yes, King Crimson, Led Zeppelin, Vinegar Joe, Les Fleur de Lys and, South African singer ,Sharon Tandy to Atlantic Records.

Frank Fenter was instrumental for breaking Rhythm and Blues music throughout Europe, having brought the "Hit the Road Stax" tour to Europe, in 1967, which introduced the Europeans to such artists as Otis Redding,Sam and Dave and Booker T and the MG's. Mr. Fenter had the idea of having legendary Producer,Tom Dowd , record the live concerts and, with Mr.Fenters direction, Stax Records, a subsidiary label of Atlantic Records, experienced a sales jump the year of the tour, with seven of the eleven albums recorded live on the Stax tour received gold album certifications.

In 1969, Frank Fenter, Phil and Alan Walden co-founded Capricorn Records with a distribution deal from Atlantic Records that Mr. Fenter secured and negotiated with his mentor, Ahmet Ertegun, the chairman of Atlantic Records. Frank Fenter became Executive Vice President of Capricorn Records and "captained the ship" while having discovered and signed many of the recording artists to the label roster with his business partner, Phil Walden. One of many contributions Mr Fenter made to race relations was his successful efforts to negotiate, in 1975, with the South African Apartheid Government, to have Capricorn Records recording artist,Dobie Gray, be the first to perform in front of a multi-racial audience in Johannesburg,South Africa.

With Frank Fenter at the helm of the record label and Phil Walden focusing on artist management, Capricorn Records became one of the most successful privately held record labels in the world throughout most of the 1970's. Capricorn Records defined and popularized the genre of Southern Rock, that included such bands as The Allman Brothers, The Marshall Tucker Band, Elvin Bishop, Wet Willie, Sea Level, Dixie Dregs, Billy Thorpe, Dobie Gray and Captain Beyond.

Frank Fenter died in Macon, Georgia, from a heart attack at the age of 47.

Rolling Stone, Fortune, New York Times, Macon Telegraph, Billboard, Associated Press, Street Singers,Soul Shakers, Rebels with A Cause: Music From Macon. Atlanta Journal Constitution, New York Magazine. Southern Rockers: Roots and Legacy of Southern Rock, by Marley Brant; A Rock and a Hard Place, by Chuck Leavell; Midnight Riders, The Story of The Allman Brothers Band, by Scott Freeman; No Saints, No Saviors: My Years With The Allman Brothers Band, by Willie Perkins. Fleur De Lys Circles, by Damian Jones. The Allman Brother’s documentary, Please Call Home. The Big House Years. Interview with the late Ahmet Ertegun, co-founder and Chairman of Atlantic Records. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfC26KHTCQ4