Died On This Date (August 22, 2011) Frank DiLeo / Label Veteran; Managed Michael Jackson
themusicsover Frank DiLeo
October 23, 1947 – August 22, 2011
Frank DiLeo was a longtime and sometimes controversial music industry executive as well as a part-time actor. Launching his music career just after high school, DiLeo first worked as a rack jobber in Pittsburgh. He went on to work for several labels in radio promotion, while along the way, building a reputation for getting records played. He held high-ranking positions at CBS Records, Bell, RCA and ultimately, for Walter Yetnikoff at Epic, where during the ’80s, he was credited for taking the label from #14 in the U.S. to #2. He was largely responsible for the success of such acts as Michael Jackson, Quiet Riot, REO Speedwagon, Ozzy Osbourne and Cyndi Lauper, to name a few. His methods may have been considered less than above-board by some, but he clearly got results. After the success of Jackson’s Thriller, the singer asked DiLeo to be his manager in a partnership that lasted until 1989. Over the years, DiLeo also managed Richie Sambora, Taylor Dane and Laura Branigan. He also formed a business relationship with Prince. As an actor, DiLeo appeared in Wayne’s World, Wayne’s World 2, and Goodfellas in which he played Tuddy Cicero, based on real life organized crime figure, Vito “Tuddy” Vario. In March of 2011, Frank DiLeo had heart surgery. He died from complications on August 22, 2011.
Esther Gordy Edwards was a pioneering businesswoman who is perhaps best remembered as an executive at her younger brother, Berry Gordy’s Motown Records. After graduating from Howard University in the mid ’40s, Edwards opened Gordy Printing Company with two of her brothers with whom she later started Ber-Berry Co-Op along with her husband (then Michigan state Representative, George Edwards) as a way to provide loans for family members. It was with an $800 loan from the lender that brother Berry launched Motown. Edwards soon joined the label’s management team and took charge of booking tours and artist management among other duties. Within the label, Edwards was affectionately referred to as the “Mother of Motown” due to her nurturing and encouragement, particularly of some of the younger artists. On occasion, she served as a strict chaperone on the their early Motortown Revue tours. Edwards eventually became the Senior Vice President and CEO of the Motown. She later served on the boards of the Detroit Chamber of Commerce and a local bank. During the mid ’80s, Edwards took over the day-to-day of Hitsville, USA – the Motown museum, which houses the original Motown studios among other priceless artifacts. Esther Gordy Edwards was 91 when she passed away peacefully in her home on August 24, 2011.