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Manager Rock

Died On This Date (January 5, 2005) Danny Sugarman / Manager Of The Doors & Author

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Danny Sugarman
October 11, 1954 – January 5, 2012

If there was such a thing as a “5th Door,” Danny Sugarman would likely have been it.  Besides being the Doors’ second manager, Sugarman wrote the two definitive books on Jim Morrison and the band, No One Here Gets Out Alive (1980, with Jerry Hopkins) and Wonderland Avenue: Tales Of Glamour And Success (1989) .  Born and raised in Los Angeles, Sugarman was a rabid fan of the band, and when given the opportunity at the age of 13 to respond to fan mail on their behalf.  He quickly became a close friend and confidant of Morrison’s.  After Morrison’s death, the band and original manager, Bill Siddons parted ways so Sugarman took over managerial duties.   He also served as consultant on Oliver Stone’s 1991 biopic, The Doors.  Also that year, he married Fawn Hall of Oliver North/Iran-Contra affair fame.  Besides the above-mentioned books, Sugarman authored The Doors (1983), The Doors: The Illustrated History (1983), and Appetite For Destruction:  The Days Of Guns N’ Roses (1991).  He also managed Iggy Pop at one point.  Danny Sugarman died of lung cancer on January 5, 2005.  He was 50.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.

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Manager Publishing Record Label

Died On This Date (December 12, 2011) John Atterberry / Music Exec Killed In Hollywood Shooting Rampage

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John Atterberry
DOB Unknown – December 12, 2011

John Atterberry was a respected music manager, publisher, and promoter who began his career at Tabu Records where he worked in A&R.  After a short detour into the fashion industry, Atterberry was named Vice President of Death Row Records where he was instrumental to the success of such acts as Snoop Dog,  Tupac Shakur and Doctor Dre.  He later formed Margela Records & Consulting, and then, Infusion Music Group, a publishing company that counted the Spice Girls and Jessica Simpson among its artists.  In 2007, Atterberry went to work for GridLock, an event promotions company while also acting as CFO of the VIP Group, a real estate brokerage firm.  On Friday, December 9, 2011 Atterberry was on Sunset Boulevard at Vine Street when he was shot in the face and upper body by Tyler Brehm who was firing random shots into passing cars as he walked down the middle of  Sunset.  Police say that Brehm shot nearly 20 bullets into the air and at cars while he screamed that he wanted to die.  A brave witness in a nearby building held his attention long enough for police to arrive on the scene and order him to drop his weapon.  When Brehm reportedly aimed at the officers, they shot and killed him.   Charles Atterberry, who was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, succumbed to his injuries on Monday, December 12, 2011.  He was 40 years old.



Manager Producer Publishing

Died On This Date (December 6, 2011) Barbara Orbison / Widow Of Roy Orbison

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Barbara Orbison (Born Barbara Jakobs)
1951 – December 6, 2011

Barbara Orbison is best remembered as the longtime wife of rock ‘n roll pioneer, Roy Orbison.  She was also a successful entrepreneur, producer and music publisher.  Born in Germany, Barbara Jakobs was just 17 when on July 21, 1968, she met her future husband when he was on tour in Leeds, England.  Although Roy was nearly twice her age, the pair married the following year.  The couple raised three sons and stayed together until Roy passed away in 1988.   During the ’80s, Barbara managed Roy’s career and was instrumental in the revival of his career, serving as Executive Producer for the popular television concert special, Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night, which featured among others,  Bruce Springsteen, k.d. lang, Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, and Jackson Browne performing alongside Roy.  After Roy died, Barbara took over his business dealings and successfully kept his music and image alive for generations to come.   Barbara also owned Still Working Music, a publishing company in Nashville, and was very active in philanthropic causes.  Barbara Orbison was 60 when she passed away on December 6, 2011 – 23 years to the day after Roy passed away.  Cause of death was attributed to cancer.



Manager Producer Record Label Reggae

Died On This Date (December 3, 2011) Philip “Fatis” Burrell / Prolific Jamaican Record Producer

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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.



Manager Record Label

Died On This Date (August 22, 2011) Frank DiLeo / Label Veteran; Managed Michael Jackson

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Frank DiLeo
October 23, 1947 – August 22, 2011

With Michael Jackson

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.



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