Kevin Deverich had careers in both music and later hotel management on an executive level. The music acts he managed were Eric Burdon & the Animals, The Music Machine and Sean Bonniwell. Later, moving into the hotel business, his career included working for Merv Griffin's hotel chain.
Background He was born in Beverly Hills, California. He attended the International School in Geneva, Switzerland. He also attended the London School of Economics and Wharton School of Management. In London he became involved with rock music bands.Los Angeles Times Obituaries - Kevin Deverich, Obituary During the 1960s, his career in music included managing Eric Burdon & the Animals,Billboard, July 20, 1968 - Page 10 Burdon and Animals Move to W. Coast and Sean Bonniwell.AllMusic - T.S. Bonniwell, Close, Credits
During his hotel career, he was general manager of the Capital Hilton, and an executive with Merv Griffin's hotel chain, which included the Beverly Hilton.Slate, May 18, 2000 - The Shadowy Gridiron: Part 3 He spent a decade running the company,The Los Angeles Times, December 05, 2003 - Computer Entrepreneur to Acquire Beverly Hilton - Roger Vincent and would later end up heading Crown Realty & Development.Bizjournals.com, Mar 4, 2004 - SoCal firm buys La Posada Resort
Music career By April, 1967, he was managing The Music Machine.Chicken on a Unicycle - Eric Burdon and the Animals - A Performance Historym October 13, 1967: The Cheetah, Chicago, IL: Eric Burdon and The Animals In 1968, he became the manager for Eric Burdon and the new Animals when they became unhappy over money that had been promised to them by manager Mike Jeffery, so they fired him and took Deverich on as their new manager.Ready Steady Gone - Mike Jeffery – part 3, THE HENDRIX YEARS This happened in April. Deverich was just managing the US side of their career but took on the role to manage them internationally.Cashbox, May 11, 1968 - Page 34 World Showplace To Handle Burdon & Animals' Int'l PRZanesville Times Recorder, Monday, August 12, 1968 - Page 2
He was responsible for the group signed Blues Image being signed to the Atco label.The Classic Rock Music Reporter, Sunday, April 24, 2011 - An unplugged interview with the Silent- Giant of the music industry By Ray Shasho
David Kevin Deverich & Associates As of July 1968, his operation was located on the West Coast on 8818 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles.Billboard, July 20, 1968 - Page 10 Burdon and Animals Move to W. CoastZanesville Times Recorder, Monday, August 12, 1968 - Page 2
By May, 1969, he had seven new acts under his roster which included Danny McCullough and Hilton Valentine from Great Britain. On the US end was Sean Bonniwell and another act called Mosaic Tweed.Record World, May 31, 1969 - Page 56 New Deverich Complex Mosaic Tweed would release a single "You And Me" bw "Comin' Home" on Capitol in July that year.45Cat - Mosaic Tweed (Featuring Don Bennett) - Discography There was also a duo consisting of Brad Truitt and Billy Woodruff on the Kevin Deverich and Assoc. talent roster.Record World, May 31, 1969 - Page 56 New Deverich Complex About two years prior to coming on board with Kevin Deverich & Associates, Truitt Brad Jose was one of the acts appearing at Jim Wright's Club Tiki on North Fair Oaks.John Muir High School Alumni Association - 1988 Hall of Fame Inductees, Brad Jose' Truitt Performing Arts 1963Ultimate70s.com - 1970-1982 TV show guest appearances for Brad Jose:Star News, Friday, May 12, 1967 - Page 9 Later in the seventies, Truitt would find work as an actor, acting in a Los Angeles production of The Tooth of Crime with James KeachSanta Ana Register, Wednesday, August 29, 1973 - Page 73 and playing characters such as Foster Bridges in "Web of Death", an episode of Kojak.Movie Dude - Web of Death (1973)TV.com - Brad Jose, Credits
Hotel career By early 1992, he was the general manager of Merv Griffin's Beverly Hilton Hotel.The News-Press, Monday, January 20, 1992 - Page 6 he would then spend a decade at the top of the hotel chain.Slate, May 18, 2000 - The Shadowy Gridiron: Part 3The Los Angeles Times, December 05, 2003 - Computer Entrepreneur to Acquire Beverly Hilton - Roger Vincent In 2000, according to an article by Slate in its May 8 issue, it was a bit of a mystery as to where Deverich was now working.Slate, May 18, 2000 - The Shadowy Gridiron: Part 3 It was reported by The Los Angeles Times in its December 5, 2003 issue that he was working for Crown Realty & Development where he was in charge of hotel acquisitions.The Los Angeles Times, December 05, 2003 - Computer Entrepreneur to Acquire Beverly Hilton - Roger Vincent By August 2004, he had been appointed vice president of Crown Realty & Development's newly formed hotel division.
Death He died suddenly at his home on September 29, 2006, leaving behind his wife Amanda and two young daughters.Los Angeles Times Obituaries - Kevin Deverich, Obituary
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