Jerry Heller, American music manager, Died at 75

  Music

Gerald E. “Jerry” Heller was born on October 6, 1940, and died on September 2, 2016.

He was an American music manager and businessman.

Heller was best known for managing west coast rap super-group and gangsta rap pioneers N.W.A and Eazy-E.

Heller rose to prominence in the 1960s and ’70s, importing Elton John and Pink Floyd for their first major American tours, and representing Journey, Marvin Gaye, Van Morrison, War, Eric Burdon, Crosby Stills and Nash, Ike & Tina Turner, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Otis Redding, The Who, Black Sabbath, Humble Pie, Styx, The Grass Roots and The Standells, among many others.

During the mid-1980s, Jerry worked with R&B and hip-hop acts like Michel’le, World Class Wreckin’ Cru, J.J. Fad, The D.O.C., Egyptian Lover and L.A. Dream Team.

He also played a role in the emergence of West Coast rap music when he co-founded Ruthless Records with Eazy-E and discovered, signed or managed the likes of N.W.A, The Black Eyed Peas, Above the Law, The D.O.C. and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.

He died after he suffered from a heart attack while driving, resulting in an auto accident.

He later died in Thousand Oaks, California.

Jerry Heller passed away at 75 years old.