One of the most respected record labels (and one of the first widely-known independent labels), ROIR, was founded by Neil Cooper. A former agent for MCA and Famous Artists, Cooper created the New York-based independent Reach Out International Records in 1979 to release material solely on cassette tapes (due to booming sales of the newly-invented Sony Walkman portable cassette player). ROIR's first release came in 1981 by James Chance and the Contortions, which was quickly followed up with titles by such acclaimed punk rock acts as Bad Brains, Glenn Branca, Television, Suicide, MC5, Johnny Thunders, G.G. Allin, Flipper, and the New York Dolls, among others (ROIR was also well known for specializing in reggae/dub releases). By the late '90s, ROIR finally began reissuing their back catalogue on the industry's preferred format, compact disc. Cooper passed away from cancer on August 13, 2001 in New York, at the age of 71. ~ Greg Prato, Rovi