MUSIC NEWS - Former music entrepreneur / manager Allen Klein, a no-holds-barred businessman who called himself a "shark" and who was known as a tenacious fighter for his cleints, which included the Beatles and the Rolling Stones has died. Born in Newark, NJ, he was 77 and lived in NYC.
A publicist for Klein's company, ABKCO Music & Records, says Klein died today at his New York City home of Alzheimer's disease. Klein became one of the most powerful figures in the music world in the 1960 and was known for his strong methods in getting his clients and in orchestrating better record deals. He represented clients that also including Sam Cooke, Bobby Darin and Herman's Hermits but was was best known for signing up the Rolling Stones in the 1960s, and later, the Beatles. Both arrangements eventually resulted in lawsuits, with some Beatles fans still blaming Klein for contributing to the problems that led to the Beatles break up. In 1971 Klein co-produced The Concert for Bangladesh with George
Harrison at Madison Square Garden, the first ever concert event at the
facility and the forerunner of every rock fund raising benefit on
behalf of a cause or charity. Following the Beatles split, he
continued to work with his close friends John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
Klein is survived by his longtime companion Iris Keitel, an ABKCO executive, his wife, Betty, and their three children, Robin, Jody and Beth, as well four grandchildren and his sister, Naomi. Services will be Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at Riverside Memorial Chapel in NYC. Instead of flowers, the family has asked for donations to the Alzheimer's Assn. of New York or the Juvenile Diabetes Assn.
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