R.I.P. Gary Kurfirst longtime manager of Talking Heads (and maybe Ramones too)

From an e-mail to Bob Lefsetz from his son

He was a true music pioneer, an ole gunslinger back when the music business was like the wild,wild west and crafty kid from Forest Hills, Queens could carve out a livingpromoting (and later managing) cutting edge acts not because they were popular,but because they were different. I actually got to work with him for most of myadult life. He taught me about the importance of artist development, buildingthe brand and finding acts that did not fit the mold but rather broke it. Hebelieved in artistry and did not sign acts because they sounded like "soand so," he signed acts that were an extension of his creative being, onesthat tested the boundaries of modern music and would change the face of musicforever. He was not a musician, or
music historian and would readily admit thathe knew zero about music in general. However he understood how to identify,create and manage unique artists as good as any human being on the planet overthe last 40 years. He always stuck to his guns. Didn't care what otherpeople thought and believed passionately that over time the cream always risesto the top. Sometimes that rise took years (see the Ramones & the TalkingHeads) and something it happened almost instantly (see Live). My point is thatmy dad represented a lot of the good that has happened in music over the past 40years. He started out as a pioneer and morphed into an anomaly and at the endof it all I'm very proud to be his son and only wish that my two boys(Gary's only grandchildren - Lucas 5 & Landon 13 months) got a chance toknow him like I did. Regards,Josh Kurfirst

ps: Gary's work history can be found here:
www.garykurfirst.com pps: two stories have broke so far http://www.nme.com/news/talking-heads/42077and one at www.hitsdailydouble.com

Here are some quotes that have been rolling in from some of his friends,artists and colleagues: Chris Frantz & Tina Weymouth, Talking Heads-Gary Kurfirst has been our manager since 1977. He never failed to take care of business for us. He protected us. He allowed Talking Heads to be Talking Heads while he took the blows that the music business dealt us. Together we suffered heartbreaks and celebrated great triumphs. Gary truly was the fifth Talking Head.

R.I.P.

Gary truly was the fifth Talking Head, and not that Eno bloke!

Truly, he was the eleventh Big Audio Dynamiter.