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Andre Harrell

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Andre Harrell
File:Harrell JS636272.jpg
Born
Andre O’Neal Harrell

(1960-09-26)September 26, 1960
New York City, U.S.
DiedMay 8, 2020(2020-05-08) (aged 59)
West Hollywood, California, U.S.[1]
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
  • producer
Years active1981–2020
Children1[1]
Musical career
GenresHip hop
Labels

Andre O’Neal Harrell (September 26, 1960 – May 8, 2020)[2] was an American record executive, record producer, songwriter and rapper. Harrell was the founder of the record label, Uptown Records. Harrell also served as the president/CEO of Motown Records. He was the first half of the hip hop duo Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde. Harrell is perhaps most known as the man that turned Diddy into a music mogul.[3]

Early life

Harrell was born in The Bronx, New York City, on September 26, 1960, and grew up there.[1][4] His father, Bernie, was a produce market employee in Hunts Point; his mother, Hattie, worked as a nurse’s aide. He graduated from the Charles Evans Hughes High School in 1978.[1] When he was a teenager, Harrell and Alonzo Brown, his high school friend, formed a rap/ hip-hop duo named Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde (Harrell and Brown, respectively).[4] The group achieved success with major hit songs like "Genius Rap" (1981) and "AM/PM" (1984).[5] Despite this early success in the music industry, Harrell had other career intentions. He went on to study at Baruch College, before transferring to Lehman College.[6] He majored in communications and business management,[6] intending to become a newscaster.[1] After three years, he dropped out of college and went to work for a local radio station.[1][6]

Career

In 1983, Harrell met Russell Simmons, the founder of Def Jam Records. He went to work for Def Jam and within two years became vice-president and general manager. After a few years working at Def Jam, Harrell left and founded his own label called Uptown Records.[1]

Harrell is credited with having discovered and signing Sean "Puffy" Combs.[7] In 1988, Mary J. Blige recorded an impromptu cover of Anita Baker's "Caught Up in the Rapture" at a recording booth in a local mall.[8] Her mother's boyfriend at the time later played the cassette for Jeff Redd, a recording artist and A&R runner for Uptown Records. Redd sent it to Harrell, who met with Blige. In 1989, she was signed to the label, and she became the company's youngest and first female solo artist.[9]

In 1988, Harrell was offered a label deal MCA Music Entertainment Group. After he had multiple successful releases, in 1992, MCA offered Harrell a multimedia deal, which involved film and television productions. They developed the feature film Strictly Business and FOX's hit police drama series, New York Undercover, which aired from 1994 until 1998.[1]

Harrell renamed Uptown Records as Uptown Enterprises, and its records were featured in productions for Universal Pictures and Universal Television.[10] In 1994, Harrell had a son with Wendy Credle, a music attorney. They named him Gianni Credle-Harrell.[11]

In 1995, Harrell was appointed CEO of Motown Records and remained there until 1997.[1] He also hosted Champagne & Bubbles on Sunday nights from 6 to 9pm on Emmis Urban AC WRKS (98.7 Kiss FM)/New York.[12] Harrell was the CEO of Harrell Records, which is distributed through Atlantic Records.[13] He partnered with budding Atlanta-based production company L7 Entertainment for the release of their new artists Hamilton Park and Netta Brielle.[14]

Harrell was the Vice Chairman of Revolt, Diddy's multi-platform music network. On October 17, 2014, he was instrumental in launching the Revolt Music Conference in Miami, Florida, at the Fountainbleau Hotel. The event was attended by such entertainment figures as Guy Oseary, Russell Simmons, and L.A. Reid.[15]

Death

Harrell died on May 8, 2020, at his home in West Hollywood, California.[1] He was 59, and news of his death was first announced on Instagram by D-Nice.[4][16] According to Wendy Credle, Harrell's ex-wife, he had been suffering from heart problems in the time leading up to his death.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Caramanica, Jon (May 9, 2020). "Andre Harrell, Executive Who Bridged Hip-Hop and R&B, Dies at 59". The New York Times. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  2. ^ Admin (May 9, 2020). "Founder of Uptown Records Andre Harrell Dead, Cause of Death". Immi Guy. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  3. ^ Alford, Natasha S. (May 20, 2016). "Andre Harrell dishes on how he helped take Diddy from shirtless 'bad boy' to music mogul".
  4. ^ a b c Carrega, Christina (May 9, 2020). "Legendary hip hop and R&B record label founder Andre Harrell has died". ABC News. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  5. ^ Haring, Bruce (May 9, 2020). "Andre Harrell Dies: Hitmaking Music Entrepreneur And Executive For Several Record Labels Was 59". Deadline. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c "Andre Harrell's Biography". The HistoryMakers. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  7. ^ Traugh 2010, p. 23.
  8. ^ "Oprah Talks to Mary J. Blige". O, The Oprah Magazine. May 2006. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  9. ^ Rugoff, Lazlo (October 11, 2019). "Mary J. Blige's most iconic '90s hits collected in new box set". The Vinyl Factory. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  10. ^ Samuels, Anita M. (November 15, 1992). "Making a Difference; It's a Sweet $50 Million For Andre Harrell's Lineup". The New York Times. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  11. ^ Mauch, Ally (May 9, 2020). "Music Executive Andre Harrell Dead at 59: 'He Made His Living Uplifting Others,' Russell Simmons Says". People. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  12. ^ Louie, King (May 9, 2020). "RIP: Hip Hop Executive Andre Harrell Passes Away At 59". Hot 97. WQHT. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  13. ^ Mitchell, Gail (October 1, 2011). "Love Jones". Billboard. Vol. 123, no. 35. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 43. ISSN 0006-2510.
  14. ^ "Andre Harrell Speaks on Music Being the Pulse of America". Singersroom. January 22, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  15. ^ "Revolt's Inaugural Music Conference Kicks Off in Miami with Sean Combs, Guy Oseary, Craig Kallman and Many More". Billboard. October 17, 2014.
  16. ^ Peters, Mitchell (May 9, 2020). "Usher, Mariah Carey, John Legend & More React to Andre Harrell's Death". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
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