Died On This Date (November 1, 2013) Joel Oberstein / Music Industry Executive
themusicsover Joel Oberstein
August 8, 1963 – November 1, 2013
A music lover since childhood, Joel Oberstein played in three Los Angeles bands while launching his career at the Los Angeles area-based Tempo Records chain, where he eventually rose to GM. He also did stints at Atlantic Records and Right Between the Acts, an innovative company that promoted new releases between sets at concerts. Oberstein eventually hooked up with Clark Benson, an entrepreneur known for the eCrush and Ranker Websites, to form Almighty/Isis. Now known as Almighty Music Marketing, the 18-year-old company, which continues to thrive, started out specializing in listening station programs in hundreds of independent record stores. Oberstein spearheaded expansions into other areas of music marketing, including the Almighty Retail Database, and its weekly New Releases Now email blasts and website. Even in the darkest days of independent retail, Oberstein was a champion of the stores and worked tirelessly to bridge the gap between the labels and the retailers who shared his passion for discovering new music and bringing attention to unappreciated classics. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis four years ago, Joel Oberstein died from complications of West Nile Virus. M.S. and steroid treatments to fight the disease had weakened his immune system to the point that he was unable to fight off WNV. Oberstein was 50 when he passed away on November 1, 2013.
Submitted by Craig Rosen at Number 1 Albums
Polly Anthony was a highly respected music industry executive who, over a career that spanned nearly 30 years, held high level positions at Epic and Geffen Records. Anthony broke into the business as an assistant at CBS Records back in 1978. She eventually rose to the position of senior vice president of promotion at the company’s sister label, Epic/550 Music. From there, Anthony rose to the position of president of the Epic Records Group. In 2004, she became co-president of Geffen Records, and in later years, involved herself with film and television projects. Polly Anthony passed away from pancreatic cancer on September 29, 2013.
Jim Foglesong was a longtime record company executive who, for the better part of 50 years, helped countless country music performers become household names. A singer himself, Foglesong began singing in church before he turned four years old, and by the time he was in high school, he was singing on local radio stations throughout Charleston, West Virginia. During WWII, Foglesong performed at USO shows while serving in the Army. After his service ended, he enrolled in college where he studied music. After graduating and moving to New York City, he found himself working as a session singer on recordings by the likes of 
Tim Carr was a songwriter, producer, and A&R executive who made perhaps his biggest mark on the music business while at Capitol, Dreamworks and Geffen Records. While at Capitol, Carr was instrumental in signing such bands as the Beastie Boys and Megadeth to the label. Throughout his career he also worked with such acts as Lush, Babes In Toyland, David Byrne, and Information Society. Prior to his record company work, Carr, who was living in Minneapolis, wrote music reviews for the local press and put on a local music festival. During the early 2000s, he moved to Thailand where he was worked with local rock singer, Sek Loso. He was also working on a music documentary. According to various sources, Carr’s body was discovered in his home by his landlord with at least one apparently fatal stab wound to the chest. Other circumstances surrounding his death were not immediately released. Tim Carr was 57 when he passed away.
A fixture of the New York metal scene, Pat Egan was a beloved music industry veteran who spent the past 10 years at iconic Metal label, Relapse Records. He was, most recently, their Director of Retail Sales and Marketing. In his capacity at Relapse, Egan was directly involved in the successes of Mastodon, Baroness, and High On Fire, to name a few. His passion for the job and metal music in particular made him a favorite within the retail community as well as with artists and management companies. Egan began his music career at Long Island retail giant, Looney Tunes where he ultimately served as store manager. He later worked at the Pavement, KOCH and Energy labels before landing at Relapse. Most, if not all who came in contact with Egan praised him. Pat Egan was hospitalized in late 2012 with pneumonia, but never fully recovered before passing away on February 18, 2013.