Frank DiLeo

Frank DiLeo

Frank Michael DiLeo (born October 23, 1947) is an American music industry executive and actor, known for his portrayal of gangster Tuddy Cicero in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas and at one time being Michael Jackson's manager.

Career

Italian-American DiLeo began his career in the music industry as a rackjobber in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1968 he was hired as a local promotion staffer by CBS Records subsidiary Epic Records and was later promoted to the company's Chicago office. Circa 1969 he was "headhunted" by RCA Records in New York, followed by a stint at Bell Records. After a year with Bell he "retired" from the music business and moved back to Pittsburgh. His return to the music industry was prompted by an "electrical fire" which destroyed his Pittsburgh home, for which his insurance carrier reportedly refused to pay out.

Frederic Dannen described DiLeo as an "outspoken fan" of the controversial record industry practice of using "Indies" (independent record promoters) to promote new singles to radio stations, a system which was widely described as "the new payola" and which by the early 1980s was reportedly costing the major US record labels tens of millions of dollars per year. DiLeo was also a close friend of Hollywood-based record promoter Joe Isgro, one of the leading figures in the shadowy indie group dubbed "The Network", who was alleged to have close ties with the Gambino crime family.

In 1979, CBS Records president Walter Yetnikoff hired his old friend DiLeo to work for Epic Records in New York as Vice President of National Promotion. Overseeing a staff of 65 people and a multi-million dollar budget, Frank helped guide Epic Records from a small $65 million dollar company to a $250 million dollar powerhouse; during this period Epic outperformed its sister label Columbia Records for two years running. Artists signed to Epic included Quiet Riot, REO Speedwagon, Ozzy Osbourne, Gloria Estefan, Luther Vandross, Meat Loaf, Cyndi Lauper, Culture Club and Michael Jackson, among others. He was voted executive of the year for Epic Records, received over 80 gold and platinum awards, and was credited for taking Epic Records from the number fourteen label in the U.S. market to number two.

In 1984, after the record-setting success of his Thriller, Michael Jackson asked DiLeo to take over as his manager. DiLeo was the executive producer for the full-length movie Moonwalker, wrote and executive produced three Pepsi-Cola commercials (including negotiating a landmark endorsement deal), and eight music videos including the Grammy winning video "Leave Me Alone". DiLeo managed Jackson's Bad World Tour, the largest-grossing tour of all time, and the Jackson family's Victory Tour. DiLeo managed Jackson until February 14, 1989 when their business relationship was abruptly terminated, without any public explanation.

In 2009, The Wall Street Journal reported that DiLeo was once again managing Michael Jackson's career.

DiLeo also managed the careers of Taylor Dayne, Jodeci, Laura Branigan, and Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora, and has worked with Prince on several projects.

Today DiLeo has founded Dileo Entertainment Group, a company located in Nashville, Tennessee. The company is focused on managing up and coming artists as well as establishing a publishing company in Nashville. DiLeo has appeared in three major motion pictures. His film credits include GoodFellas, Wayne's World and Wayne's World 2. Sometime in 2010, a small theme park called DiLeo Land is scheduled to open in the Brentwood Section of Harrison, NY. DiLeo Land will provide a variety of distinct and unique rides and attractions. All visitors would be required to purchase "TOEkens" that are shaped like a narcotic pill, allowing admission into the park and rides. The "Sereqwheel" (a unique version of the Ferris Wheel where you sit in a pill shaped container), The "Pool of Drool" ( a pool consisting of John "Toes" Dileo salivary gland extract), "Bumper Toes"(a toe shaped car with fungus), The Bearded Lady (starring the lovely Chrissy Dileo), The Gossip Teller (a version of the fortune teller), The "Log Fumes" (similar to the log flume, although rider is subjected to large amounts of carbon monoxide), are just some of the rides slated to open. All visitors to the park are required to smoke cigarettes while on the grounds, and anyone violating this rule is subject to expulsion. In lieu of US Dollars, park patrons can also exchange any narcotic, anti-depressants,stimulants and most other addictive pain killers for TOEkins.

Filmography

• Moonwalker (1988) ....Jack
• Goodfellas (1990) ....Tuddy Cicero
• Wayne's World (1992) ....Frankie "Mr. Big" Sharp - Sharp Records
• Wayne's World 2 (1993) ....Frankie "Mr. Big" Sharp - Sharp Records
• Kiss of Death (1995) ....Big Junior's Friend
• SuperPhan (1998) ....Uncle Sal

References

• Dannen, Frederic. Hit Men: Powerbrokers and Fast Money Inside the Music Business. (Vintage Books, UK, 1991)

External links

• Frank DiLeo at IMDb
• Biographische Suche