Seymour Stein, the musical director who signed Madonna, Speaking Heads, The Ramones and The Pretenders, has died. He was 80 years previous. The Sire Data co-founder additionally helped discovered the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame Basis and was himself a Rock Corridor inductee in 2005. Stein died of most cancers in Los Angeles, his household stated in an announcement to The Related Press. .
Stein was born on April 18, 1942 in New York and commenced his profession within the music trade working for Billboard journal whereas nonetheless in highschool. King Data proprietor Syd King requested Stein to work for him in Cincinnati and joined the corporate in 1961. Nevertheless, he quickly returned to New York two years later.
Whereas working within the Brill Constructing, Stein befriended document govt Richard Gottehrer. In 1966, they are going to create the corporate which is able to turn out to be Sire Data. The label initially centered on bringing European acts to the USA, Stein started signing acts standard within the New York membership scene, starting with The Ramones in 1975. Stein would go on to play a influential position within the new wave scene of the Seventies and Nineteen Eighties.
In 1982, Stein heard a demo of Madonna’s track “All people”. He signed the singer and the track grew to become his first single. Sire launched all of Madonna’s now iconic albums and singles till 1992, when she left to launch her personal label Maverick. Madonna shared a tribute to Stein on Instagram on Monday, recalling how she first met him when he was in hospital with a coronary heart situation. She performed him the demo of “All people” and he jokingly requested her if she was associated to the Virgin Mary. In that second, they knew they’d work effectively collectively, Madonna wrote.
“That second modified the course of my life without end,” Madonna wrote. “And that was the start of my journey as a musical artist. Not solely did Seymour hear me, however he noticed me and my potential! For that, I will probably be without end grateful! I cry as I write this. Phrases cannot describe how I really feel proper now after years of grinding and being broke and having each door slammed in my face.”
“Anybody who knew Seymour knew his ardour for music and his impeccable style. He had an ear like no different!
He was Intense – Wickedly Humorous – somewhat Loopy And Deeply Intuitive,” Madonna continued. “Pricey Seymour, you’ll by no means be forgotten!! THANKS! Thanks thanks! Shine on!!!”
Ice-T, who additionally recorded for Sire, shared a tribute on Twitter. “Legend Seymour Stein handed away… Signed Me, BodyCount, Madonna, Lou Reed, Speaking Heads, The Ramones and plenty of extra superb bands.” Ice-T wrote. “He requested me, of all individuals, to induct him into the RockNRoll Corridor of Fame. This can be a unhappy day for me and for all music. I really like you, Seymour. RIP.”
Stein was briefly married to late document promoter and actual property govt Linda Adler, with whom he had two youngsters, filmmaker Mandy Stein and Samantha Lee Jacobs, who died of mind most cancers in 2013. Stein grew to become homosexual in 2017 and by no means remarried. He additionally wrote a memoir, Siren Track: My Life in Musicrevealed in 2018.