Matthew Rettenmund
Music industry legend Seymour Stein, who was signed to some of the top acts of the ’70s and ’80s, most notably Madonna, died Sunday at the age of 80.
variety report He died of cancer he had been battling for years.
In his 2018 memoir, Siren Song, he described himself as “a hitman, an entrepreneur in the record business. I’m not a producer like Phil Spector or Quincy Jones. I can’t play an instrument. I can’t operate.” I can’t, my exact job description is A&R, artist, repertoire, old show business terms for talent hunting.”
The colorful loner was known to have signed Madonna from his hospital bed, and the future Queen of Pop arrived in 1982 to seal the deal. Stein, who was brought to Stein’s attention by DJ Mark Cummins, said: variety In a 2018 essay about meeting Madonna, she wrote, “When the penicillin dripped into my mind, I lay there and listened to Mark’s first discovery. I was mad in that little room.” I’m sure, but I felt the excitement right away.I liked the hook.I like Madonna’s voice.I like the feeling.I like the name. Madonna. I nice It all played again. Never over-analyze or suck your life out of what you instinctively enjoy. ”
He asked for a visit, and Madonna suggested that he come to the hospital that night.
“She was a club kid who was all dressed in cheap punky gear and looking ridiculously out of place in the cardiology ward,” Stein wrote. She wasn’t even interested in hearing me explain how she liked it.”All you have to do now is sign a record deal,” she said. She spread her arms and laughed, “Take me, I’m yours!”
Stein’s career wasn’t just Madonna. He began working in the industry in his 1950s, beginning with Billboard, King He worked at Records, and in 1966 Richard He founded Sire He Records with Gottler.
He signed with the Ramones and Talking Heads, and has worked with the Cure, Seal, The Smiths, The Pretenders, Lou Reed, Debbie Harry, Ice-T, Depeche Mode, kd Lang, and countless others. Worked with artists and sires. murmured“Swift rebirth my friend.”
For his contributions to music, Stein was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005. This was three years before Madonna remembered him warmly when it was her turn.
Stein, who came out as gay in 2017, married and amicably divorced real estate executive Linda Stein in the ’70s. they were close.
He is survived by two daughters.
stein said NPR In 2018, when he retired, he said he had never really given up on his day job, saying, “I try to listen to as much new music as I can. But I probably don’t listen to enough. But as I get older, , you too are attached to the past. But I try to keep it as up to date as possible.
