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Music Mogul Gary Kurfirst Dies

Gary Kurfirst, a label executive who helped launch the careers of several of rock's elite, including Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and the Doors, died Tuesday at the age of 60 while vacationing in the Bahamas. The cause of death has not been released.

Kurfirst's career in music started in 1967, when he opened the Village Theater -- the venue that later turned into the legendary Fillmore East -- in New York. In '68, at the age of 20, he put on the New York Rock Festival, a multi-date concert series at Flushing's Singer Bowl that featured Hendrix, Joplin, the Who, and the Doors.

In the '70s and '80s, Kurfirst signed and managed acts like the Ramones, Eurythmics, B52s, Jane's Addiction and the Talking Heads.

"Gary truly was the fifth Talking Head," TH members Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth said in a statement. "We were very close friends and we will miss him terribly."

Dearly Departed Musicians

    Pedro Aguilar, Jan. 13: The mambo dancing legend known to most as 'Cuban Pete' was one of the genre's leading men in the 1950s. He died at the age of 81.

    AP Photo/The Miami Herald, Raul Rubiera

    Ron Asheton, Jan. 6: Along with Iggy Pop, left, the guitarist helped define the Detroit garage rock sound with the beloved Stooges. Although it hasn't been made official, it's believed that Asheton suffered a heart attack at his Ann Arbor, Mich. home. He was 60.

    Harold Cunningham, WireImage

    Freddie Hubbard, Dec. 29: The 'hard bop' jazz trumpet legend who worked with greats like John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman and Art Blakey during his prime died more than a month after suffering a heart attack on Nov. 20. He was 70 years old.

    Tom Copi, Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

    Delaney Bramlett, Dec. 27: The accomplished singer, songwriter and producer to such stars as George Harrison and Eric Clapton died at the age of 69 after complications from gallbladder surgery. He's seen here (right) in 1970 with Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia (left).

    AP

    Eartha Kitt, Dec. 25: The sultry 'Santa Baby' songstress who went on to have a long career in music, movies and on stage died on Christmas day after a long battle with colon cancer.

    Jamie McCarthy, WireImage.com

    Davy Graham, Dec. 15: The folk singer known and respected across the music world for his nimble fingers and innovative use of tuning, died from a seizure in his London home. He was 68, and also had a long battle lung cancer.

    Chris Mills, Redferns / Retna

    Odetta, Dec. 2: The singer who became intertwined with the civil rights movement and sang during the 1963 march on Washington died of what her manager says was a heart attack. She was 77.

    AP

    Ralph Joseph "Jody" Reynolds, Nov. 7: The rockabilly singer, whose lone Top 10 hit 'Endless Sleep' ushered in a wave of similar songs about teens and tragedy in the late 1950s, died of liver cancer. He was 75.

    Amazon.com

    Mitch Mitchell, Nov. 12: The rock durmmer, left, and last surviving member of the legendary Jimi Hendrix Experience, was found dead of apparent natural causes in a Portland hotel room at age 61. The leader of the band overdosed in 1970, while bassist Noel Redding, right, died in 2003.

    Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

    Miriam Makeba, Nov. 10: THe South African singing legend who was banned from her own country for more than 30 years under apartheid died from a heart attack after collapsing on stage in Italy. She was 76.

    AP

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Joann Cofield

I want be going to the Bahamas any time soon.

Thanks JC

January 15 2009 at 7:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John

Unfortunately, I've never heard of him, but what a who's who of cutting edge music? All groups I grew up with, loved immensely, and tripped out to. What a genius to recognize such talent. He will be missed.

January 15 2009 at 7:11 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
CindyM

At 19 he opened a venue which became the Filmore East and at 20 or so he was booking acts like Hendrix, Joplin, The Doors and the Who. Say what you want, but what were YOU doing at 19 or 20? Sounds like he accomplished a lot at a young age.

January 15 2009 at 7:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jouvaunnie333

yea thats true... lets go to JAMAICA insted

January 15 2009 at 6:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
cannotbelievethis

When i was an early teen, I had pretty cool parents who let me work part-time for WNEW in New York as a DJ (when we had actual vinyl records). I got to meet a lot of artists, and if their tours permitted it, I'd bring them across the river to hang at my parents home, for a little R & R and a home -cooked meal. I didn't know Gary personally, though I had spoken with him on the phone at the station. We have TONS of B&W snaps of the artists he signed, with and without me and my brother. Will miss his organizational skills and his ubitquitous skill at putting the right sounds together, to teach us all how to grow. RIP, you will be missed....

January 15 2009 at 5:43 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
bspoeri1500

I'm glad everyone is starting to take notice of the Bahamas and the number of deaths that take place there that we hear about. I was very ill 4 years ago there - i thought i was having a heart attack. From the time we called 911 to the time i finally arrived at the hospital, 2 hours had passed!! To top it off, on the way to the hospital the ambulance informed me i owed them $650 dollars and how did i want to pay, cash or credit??? Once i arrived at the public hospital (the private hospital wanted $2500 upfront on my credit card before any treatment would begin) i was totally ignored for another 20 minutes. Mind you i still was in great distress and a heart attack had not been ruled out at this point. The hospital was filthy - urine on the bathroom floor and the nurses basically ignored you. And you were in a room with about 10 other people. Bottom line, if you have any medical concern or have any regard to living in the event of emergency, DO NOT GO TO THE BAHAMAS!!!

January 15 2009 at 5:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Carla VRuff Vito

WELL GEE IF YOUR NOT FROM THE 60'S YOU WOULDN'T OF KNOWN HIM....HE KNEW TALENT AN HE DID A GREAT JOB WITH ACT'S HE CREATED HE'LL BE MISSED... GIVE ME THE BEAT AN FREE MY SOUL I JUST WANT TO GET LOST IN YOUR ROCK AN ROLL AN SLEEP AWAY.
"IF MUSICE BE THE FOOD OF LOVE PLAY ON "

January 15 2009 at 5:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
MICHAEL BERRY

Gary and I became golf playing friends in Florida. We had a lot in common and was truly a nice man. I n=knew he had been sick but I saw him at dinner a couple of months ago and he looked much better. I will miss him and what he did for music.

January 15 2009 at 4:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
cindyjdpaper

Well, that blows........

January 15 2009 at 4:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Welcome Heather

I for one am staying away from the Bahamas!

January 15 2009 at 4:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply