The legendary music executive, Andre Harrell, died on Thursday night last week at his home in West Hollywood, California, aged 59. He is the man who paved the way for Sean “Diddy” Comb’s career and the founder of the influential label Uptown Records in the late ’80s.
According to The New York Times, Harrell’s ex-wife, Wendy Credle, reported that the cause of his death was complications from heart failure as he had suffered heart problems for some time.
On Friday night, DJ D-Nice shared the heartbreaking news while hosting his famous Club Quarantine series on Instagram.
Andre O’Neal Harrell was born in the Bronx on September 26, 1960. He kicked off his career as one-half of Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde, who were behind successful singles in the ’80s, including “Genius Rap” in 1981 and “A.M/P.M” in 1984. Harrell teamed up with Russell Simons in 1983 at Def Jam, serving as the vice president and general manager of the label. At Def Jam, he worked with artists such as Run-DMC, LL Cool J, Whodini, and more.
In 1986, Andre Harrell would leave Def Jam to set up his record company, Uptown Records, where he helped to launch the careers of artists like Jodeci, Al B. Sure, Guy, and Heavy D & the Boyz. He equally signed a teenage Mary J. Blige at the time as well as opening doors for The Notorious B.I.G., who Diddy discovered at Uptown Records and later signed to Bad Boy Records in 1993.
While talking to the Los Angeles Times in 1992, Harrell said, “My goal is to bring real black America — just as it is, not watered down — to people everywhere through music, through films, through everything we do.”
The entire music world has joined forces to mourn the devastating loss of the legendary music executive while also honoring his legacy. Big-name artists and friends, including Mariah Carey, L.A. Reid, Russell Simmons, Usher, and Teddy Riley, are paying tribute to the legend on social media.
“We’ve lost one of the greatest mentors in my life,” Teddy Riley Said, while Mariah Carey added, “My heart is breaking, and I can’t stop crying. He was an amazing friend, and I will miss him forever.”
Below are some other tributes from the music community!
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_9OXYrj08u/?utm_source=ig_embed
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_9M84Ppo2t/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_9RqKuAd40/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading
