Died On This Date (August 30, 2013) Chris Lighty / Managed 50 Cent, Diddy, Mariah Carey, Ja Rule
themusicsover Chris Lighty
DOB Unknown – August 30, 2012
Chris Lighty was a respected artist manager who counted Sean “Diddy” Combs, Mariah Carey, Ja Rule and 50 Cent as clients. Raised in New York City, Lighty landed his first significant gig in 1988 with Russell Simmon’s Rush Management. After learning the ropes and building a solid reputation as a man who could build brands, Lighty formed Violator Management. His early roster included Busta Rhymes, L L Cool J, and Missy Elliott. Before long, Lighty was representing some of the biggest names in entertainment, and while doing so, becoming one of the most significant business forces in rap history. Chris Lighty reportedly died from a self-inflected gunshot wound at his home on August 30, 2012. He was 44.
Thanks Kelly Samojlik at New Releases Now for the assist.
Vince Lovegrove was a famous Australian artist manager, television producer, journalist, and one-time pop star himself. As a singer, Lovegrove performed with several Perth bands during the early ’60s. In 1966, he founded the Valentines in which he sang co-lead with future AC/DC front man, Bon Scott. In fact, it was Lovegrove who ultimately introduced Scott to the other members of AC/DC who of course, went on to become a rock and roll dynasty. The Valentines scored several Australian hits before disbanding in 1970. Lovegrove went on to become a pop music journalist, writing for such magazines as Go-Set and Immedia!. As a manager, Lovegrove, at one point or another, oversaw the careers of AC/DC, Cold Chisel, Jimmy Barnes, and the Divinyls. During the mid ’80s, Lovegrove’s wife, Suzi Sidewinder, was diagnosed with HIV. Prior to this knowledge, Suzi passed the virus along to their then-unborn son, Troy Sidewinder, while he was in her womb. Suzi died of AIDS in 1987, while Troy passed away from it in 1993. Lovegrove forged on as an HIV awareness activist, educating people that the virus was much more than a “gay disease.” He made two very personal and critically acclaimed documentaries on the subject, Suzi’s Story, and A Kid Called Troy. Lovegrove continued writing and performing well into the 2000s. Vince Lovegrove was killed in an automobile accident on March 24, 2012. He was 64.
Jon McIntire is best remembered as the two-time manager of the Grateful Dead. It was under his watch – first in the early ’70s and again during the ’80s – that the “Deadhead” phenomenon was born, and most sources credit McIntire for making it happen. When the band’s Grateful Dead album (also known as Skull and Roses) came out in 1971, McIntire had a note inserted that read “Dead Freaks Unite! Who are you? Where are you? How are you? Send us your name and address and we’ll keep you informed.” What followed was a devotion by fans around the world, the likes of which had never been seen and will likely be never seen again. It was during the McIntire era that the band also released Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty – two of rock’s most influential albums. He parted ways with the Dead in 1974 and went on to shepherd Bob Weir’s solo career. He returned to manage the band in 1984 and oversaw their biggest commercial successes, In the Dark, and the “Touch of Grey” single, which was their only one to ever crack the Top 10. Jon McIntire was 70 when he died of cancer on February 16, 2012.
John Levy was a talented bassist who went on to become jazz and pop music’s first African-American artist manager of any significance. Born in New Orleans, Levy ultimately landed in New York City, where in 1949, he was hired to play in the 
Mal Evans worked as the Beatles’ road manager for many years and also appeared in minor roles on several of their records. He also discovered and produced Badfinger. Evans was working as a bouncer at the Cavern Club in Liverpool when, in 1963, Beatles’ manager,