The music industry took a collective pause on Saturday to mourn the loss of Uptown Records founder and iconic music executive, Andre Harrell. New broke late Friday night that Harrell had passed away at the age of 59, although his specific cause of death is still unknown. DJ D-Nice was the first to break the news during one of his Club Quarantine sessions on Instagram live. Harrell's cousin, singer O'Neal McKnight, later confirmed his passing.
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for NARAS
Among his many accomplishments, Harrell has been credited for discovering a young Sean "Diddy" Combs and launching his career. He also served as the President and CEO of Motown Records as well as the Vice president and General Manager of Def Jam at different points in his career. At the time of his death, Harrell was the Vice Chairman of REVOLT TV & Media.
Plenty of artists and fellow executives in the music industry came forward to pay their respects to Harrell over social media.
Andre Harrell, Music Industry Legend & Icon, Has Passed Away At 59: Report
Andre Harrell, one of the most influential music industry personalities, especially in hip hop and R&B, has reportedly passed away.
It's with extremely heavy hearts that we report the passing of Andre Harrell. While his cause of death is unclear, the news has just circulated that the 59-year-old passed away—news that was delivered by DJ D-Nice as he was performing one of his popular Instagram Live Club Quarantine sessions. There hasn't yet been an official statement released from Harrell's camp.
Jemal Countess / Staff / Getty Images
His name may be unfamiliar to some, but the impact that Andre Harrell had on the music industry is insurmountable. He was responsible for signing Sean "Puffy" Combs to his very first record deal and was the founder of Uptown Records, a label that held artists like Al B. Sure!, Christopher Williams, Biggie, Jodeci, Guy, Heavy D. & The Boyz, Father MC, Mary J. Blige, Soul 4 Real, and many others. Harrell would also serve as the President and CEO of Motown Records for a time as well as the Vice president and General Manager of Def Jam. At the time of his passing, Harrell held the position of Vice Chairman of REVOLT TV & Media.
As this news is fresh, we expect there to be many reactions from industry professionals and performers about Andre Harrell no longer being with us. We send our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and fans. Read through a few tweets about him below.
