PIONEER DJ

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

LEE MAGID MUSIC PRODUCER DIED

LEE MAGID, 80, MUSIC PRODUCER

Record industry vet managed career of Della Reese

Music producer and manager Lee Magid, who worked with Della Reese for more than 60 years, died March 31 in Los Angeles. He was 80.

Born in Manhattan, he began playing trumpet and arranging at age 15. Starting as a song-plugger at Harms Music, Magid worked with Louis Prima and National Records, where he became an A & R man and began producing with Joe Turner, Charlie Ventura and the Ward Singers.

He moved to the Savoy label, where he continued to produce and promote records. The label recorded talent including The Wanderers, Johnny Otis and Little Esther. In 1953 he discovered and signed singer Al Hibbler, becoming his manager. Soon after he met Della Reese and helped launch her career. As a manager, he booked dates for Lou Rawls, Earl Grant and Sam Fletcher.

Source: variety headline news