Hal Zieger (sometimes reported as "Hal Ziegler" or "Hal Ziger") was a music producer and promoter in Southern California in the 1950s and into the early 1960s. He is credited as one of the first distributors of rock music.[1]

 

I realize that this music got through to the youngsters because the big beat matched the great rhythms of the human body. I knew it and I knew there was nothing that anyone could do to knock that out of them. I further knew that they would carry this with them the rest of their lives.

-- Hal Zieger[2]

 

In 1961, Zieger hired Harry Nilsson and Harry's friend, Jerry Smith, to fill in for The Safaris during one of his "oldies" shows at a venue in National City, California. The evening was not a success for the young duo and may be a factor in why Nilsson seldom performed live later. For the complete story, see the article "One Last Touch of Nilsson."

 

Zieger and bandleader, Johnny Otis, started a music publishing company, Eldorado Music which also released records on the Eldo label. The label produced a top ten hit with "Image of a Girl" by The Safaris.