Businessman. He was an American record executive, record producer, and manager, as well as the President of Brunswick Records, a division of Decca Records. He played a pivotal role in shaping R&B music during the rock n' roll era. Born in Detroit, Michigan, to Eastern European Jewish parents, he was the youngest of two sons. His passions included R&B music and baseball. His parents wanted him to become a rabbi, but he focused on his sports and music interests more. When he was twelve years old, his mother Pearl died, and his Aunt Lena helped raise him. He excelled at baseball as the star shortstop for his high school team. Near the end of high school, he was offered to join the Chicago White Sox or Detroit Tigers. Due to the low wages and anti-Semitism Jewish athletes faced during that time, he declined to join the MLB. Since there was no college money to make a living, he got a job at the Union Tire Company in Detroit. He would often frequent the Black Bottom neighborhood in Detroit to attend nightclub shows at The Flame Show Bar. The Flame Show Bar was a frequent performance venue for up-and-coming Black musicians aspiring to stardom. In 1956, Tarnopol met manager Al Green of National Records, who managed legendary artists like Little Willie John, LaVern Baker, and Johnnie Ray, among others. He was blown away by a vocalist who tore the house down that night after leaving Billy Ward and His Dominoes. That man was Jackie Wilson. Green signed a managerial contract with Wilson with a potential record deal on Decca Records, but Green died, leading Tarnopol to take over as manager. Decca placed Wilson on the Brunswick Records division, and he started having hits with "Reet Petite" and "Lonely Teardrops." These hits and more led to Tarnopol being named President of Brunswick Records. He launched the careers of Jackie Wilson, Gene Chandler, The Artistics, The Chi-Lites, Tyrone Davis, Young-Holt Unlimited and Barbara Acklin. During his tenure, Brunswick scored over 150 songs on the Billboard Pop & R&B singles charts. He expanded the label by adding more Midwestern artists. By the early 1970s, relations between Decca, MCA, and Tarnopol were strained. By the mid-1970s, Brunswick was out of MCA's control. Allegations of embezzlement and mismanaging artists' royalties and payola emerged around 1975, leading to a government investigation. He was cleared in 1977 by an appeals court but was nearly bankrupt from the legal fees. By 1982, Tarnopol stopped running Brunswick and left the music industry. After years of financial issues and health problems, Tarnopol died from congestive heart failure at age 56. Brunswick Records is currently owned by the Tarnopol family, with his son being president.