Gil Friesen, one of the few Hollywood executives to wear two hats as president of A&M Records as well as A&M Films (making The Breakfast Club among a dozen films), died today at his Brentwood home. His friends told Deadline his death followed a prolonged battle with leukemia. He was 75. Friesen was best known as a legendary record executive at the privately owned label modestly founded by Jerry Moss and Herb Alpert in the Tijuana Brass trumpet player’s garage in 1962. Cool and popular, Friesen climbed the Hollywood career ladder as one of those golden boys who could do no wrong in showbiz. Beginning his career at Capitol Records, Friesen became A&M’s first general manager. It was Friesen who helped turn Herb Alpert And The Tijuana Brass into a successful touring attraction and developed artists from Cat Stevens, Joe Cocker, Rita Coolidge and The Carpenters to Janet Jackson,...
- 12/14/2012
- by NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief
- Deadline Hollywood
Gil Friesen, one of the few Hollywood executives to wear two hats as president of A&M Records as well as A&M Films (making The Breakfast Club among a dozen films), died today at his Brentwood home. His friends told Deadline his death followed a prolonged battle with leukemia. He was 75. Friesen was best known as a legendary record executive at the privately owned label modestly founded by Jerry Moss and Herb Alpert in the Tijuana Brass trumpet player’s garage in 1962. Cool and popular, Friesen climbed the Hollywood career ladder as one of those golden boys who could do no wrong in showbiz. Beginning his career at Capitol Records, Friesen became A&M’s first general manager. It was Friesen who helped turn Herb Alpert And The Tijuana Brass into a successful touring attraction and developed artists from Cat Stevens, Joe Cocker, Rita Coolidge and The Carpenters to Janet Jackson,...
- 12/14/2012
- by NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief
- Deadline TV
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