Florence Greenberg; Founder and Head of Scepter Records

Florence Greenberg, 82, a restless housewife who launched the successful Scepter Records. Mrs. Greenberg, looking for something to do once her children were in school, became enchanted with four of her daughter’s New Jersey schoolmates who billed themselves as the Shirelles. She recorded their first song, “I Met Him on a Sunday,” for her first employer, Tiara Records. In 1959, she founded Scepter and soon recorded the Shirelles’ hit “Dedicated to the One I Love,” followed by their “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” As head of the company for 17 years, Mrs. Greenberg developed talent, chose songs and selected album cover art, churning out hits such as the Isley Brothers’ “Twist and Shout,” the Kingsmen’s “Louie, Louie,” Dionne Warwick’s “Walk On By” and “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again,” and B.J. Thomas’ “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head.” On Wednesday in Hackensack, N.J., after a stroke.