Jerry Blair, Radio Promotion Executive Who Championed Ricky Martin, Dies at 60
Long advocating for Latin music at the label, Blair famously championed’s crossover in the late ‘90s to his then-boss, former Sony Music chief Tommy Mottola. His belief in the era’s “Latin explosion” led to hits for Jennifer Lopez and Shakira, in addition to Martin who broke onto the U.S. scene with the massive crossover radio hit “Livin’ la Vida Loca” in 1999.
With Carey, he shared a long and successful partnership that endured beyond both their tenures at Columbia Records, forming the MonarC label together. More than a promotion exec, he showed A&R talent as well, pairing Aerosmith with Diane Warren for the hit song “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing,” which was a career highlight for both.
“He was the absolute superstar best at his game and he wrote the blueprint for promotion and trained and taught the absolute best promotion staff in the business,”Blair’s resume includes a stint at Arista as EVP in 2000, the launch of MonarC Music , serving as a principal in the Fuerte Group until 2009, and founding Global Entertainment Management/Perspectiva Music, where he worked up until his illness.
Blair was one of the most colorful executives in the business, described by those who knew him as “a passionate music man” and “a force of nature.”optional screen reader