[ad_1]
Billboard pays tribute to the executives, songwriters, managers, producers, promoters and more who passed on this year.
Jerry Moss
Each year, the music industry inevitably loses some of its most influential behind-the-scenes players — corporate executives, agents, managers, songwriters, producers, engineers, lawyers, promoters, visionaries and more who shaped the business in a multitude of ways. So far in 2023, the industry has lost people like the trailblazing music agent Charles “Chip” Rachlin, Spanish-language radio personality Polito Vega, record label co-founders Seymour Stein and Jerry Moss, and the “Godfather of Black Music” Clarence Avant.
To commemorate those who have passed on, Billboard is highlighting these enterprising, often-unsung individuals, who left a lasting impression across every aspect of the business. In addition to being mourned by their friends and loved ones, all of the people listed below left behind peers, colleagues, artists, mentees and more who were changed in some way by their having been involved in the industry.
Here are the behind-the-scenes players we’ve lost in 2023:
-
Alba “Albita” Eagan, 69
Image Credit: Courtesy of Family of Alba Egan January 1
Veteran public and talent relations executive who was instrumental in launching the careers of Latin stars including Chayanne, Ricky Martin and Juan Gabriel. Read more here.
-
Gary Kline
Image Credit: Courtesy of Radio World January 10
Longtime radio engineer and consultant who spent most of his career at Cumulus Media Networks, where he rose to become senior vp of broadcast engineering.
-
Charles “Chip” Rachlin, 73
Image Credit: Courtesy Rachlin Entertainment January 23
Trailblazing agent for Billy Joel and The Beach Boys who worked at the Millard Agency and ICM before launching Rachlin Entertainment in the early 1990s. Read more here.
-
Thomas H. Lee, 78
Image Credit: Dia Dipasupil/GI February 23
Billionaire private equity investor who was part of the group that acquired Warner Music from Time Warner in 2004. Read more here.
-
Polito Vega, 84
Image Credit: Alexander Tamargo/GI March 9
Larger-than-life radio personality and longtime program director of New York City’s Spanish-language station WSKQ (Mega 97.9 FM) who was a pivotal player in the rise of Latin music in the United States. Read more here.
-
Liz Thiels, 78
Image Credit: Donn Jones for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum March 19
Public relations executive who co-founded Network Ink, Nashville’s first PR firm specific to the city’s music industry, and served as longtime vp of public relations for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Read more here.
-
Seymour Stein, 80
Image Credit: Michael Halsband/Warner Music Group April 2
Sire Records co-founder and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee who signed major acts including Madonna, Talking Heads, The Pretenders and The Cure. Read more here.
-
Irv Lichtman, 87
Image Credit: Paul Verna May 2
Longtime Billboard editor and columnist who carved out a niche as a music publishing expert. Read more here.
-
John Tovar, 65
Image Credit: Jim Camacho May 21
Florida-based talent scout, consultant and artist manager who helped launch acts including Marilyn Manson, the Mavericks, Nuclear Valdez and the Goods
-
Bob Rice, 79
Image Credit: Courtesy of Four Bars Intertainment and Top Dollar PR June 7
Founder/CEO of agency Four Bars Intertainment who represented such A-list video game composers as Inon Zur (Fallout), Tom Salta (Ghost Recon), Steve Ouimette (Guitar Hero) and Cris Velasco (God of War)
-
Varnell Harris Johnson
Image Credit: Courtesy of The Living Legends Foundation June 21
Held senior roles at Capitol-EMI, Blue Note, Jive, Island and Elektra Records, plus was president of the Living Legends Foundation. Read more here.
-
Jerry Bradley, 83
Image Credit: Tony Brown’s Book; “Elvis, Strait to Jesus” Melissa Core and Rick Caballo of Dead Horse Branding July 17
The legendary head of RCA Records in Nashville during country’s “Outlaw” heyday went on to run Opryland Music Group and was key to the growth of CMA Fest. Read more here.
-
Chuck Flood, 78
Image Credit: Ed Rode July 21
Co-founder of Nashville business management firm FBMM. Read more here.
-
Clarence Avant, 92
Image Credit: Gabriel Olsen/WireImage August 13
His decades of trailblazing work as an artist manager, mentor, executive and record label owner earned him the title of “Godfather of Black Music.” Read more here.
-
Bob Jones, 86
Image Credit: Douglas Mason/Getty Images August 14
The longtime producer of the Newport Folk Festival is credited with persuading founder George Wein to ressurect it in 1985 following a lengthy dormancy. Jones also produced Wein’s jazz festival and was involved in the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
-
Jerry Moss, 88
Image Credit: Getty Images August 16
With Herb Alpert, he built A&M Records into one of the industry’s most successful independent labels ever. Read more here.
[ad_2]
Source link