Philip “Fatis” Burell
July 23, 1954 – December 3, 3011
Philip “Fatis” Burrell was a well-respected reggae producer, artist manager, and owner of the influential label, Xterminator Records. By most accounts, he was one of the most successful producers of the modern reggae era. Burrell’s first credit was likely as producer of Sugar Minott’s “More Dogs To The Bone” in 1984. Around that time, he also started his first label, Kings & Lions. A couple of years later, Burrell launched Vena Records where he helped launch the careers of Sanchez and Pinchers. He also released records by such established greats as Gregory Isaacs and Frankie Paul on Vena. Over the course of his career, Burrell also worked with – either as their label head, producer, or manager - Luciano, Sizzla, Cocoa Tea, Ras Shiloh, and Everton Blender, to name a few. On December 3, 2011, Philip “Fatis” Burrell passed away from complications of a mild stroke he suffered two weeks earlier. He was 57.
Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.
As one of the first African-American female artist managers in the entertainment industry, Faye Treadwell blazed the trail for women exectutives to follow ever since. After the 1967 death of her husband and then-manager of R&B greats, the Drifters, Treadwell bought out his business partners and took over as manager of the group. Prior to that, Treadwell handled administrative and publicity duties for the group. For the better part of the next four decades, she guided the various incarnations of the Drifters that counted as many as 50 members along the way. That list includes Ben E. King, 
Jim Dickson was a recording engineer, producer, and eventual manager of the Byrds. He is often cited as one of the foundations of the ’60s folk-rock movement, particularly that which was coming out of Southern California. During his early years, Dickson produced records by the likes of Hamilton Camp, David Crosby, and the Dillards. He soon began managing a new band formed by Crosby and Chris Hillman who at first went by the Beefeaters and then the Jet Set. It was their desire to become Los Angeles’ answer to the Beatles. In 1964, Dickson was sent a demo of Bob Dylan’s then-unreleased “Mr. Tamborine Man,” which the band, now known as the Byrds, recorded and released. It would became one of the era’s definitive songs and helped launch a sound that inspired countless other musicians. To help the band build a following in those early days, Dickson enlisted the help of such famous friends as Jack Nicholson and 
Bob Marcucci was a successful artist manager who is perhaps best remembered for discovering and guiding the early careers of Frankie Avalon and Fabian. Born in Philadelphia, PA, Marcucci was just 25 when he entered the music business as a song writer. A short time later, he launched his own Chancellor Records where he signed Avalon and Fabian. In later years, Marcucci managed popular gossip columnist Rona Barrett, and served as co-producer of the Bill Murray film, The Razor’s Edge. The 1980 film, The Idolmaker was loosely based on his life in the music business. Bob Marcucci died of respiratory failure on March 9, 2011. He was 81.