Frank DiLeo is dead - R.I.P. (1947 - 2011)

Frank DiLeo, who helped guide Michael Jackson career path to become the King Of Pop, died today due to complications from heart surgery in March. He was 63.

DiLeo, who began his affiliation with Jackson when he joined Epic Records as the VP of national promotion in 1979, helped make "Thriller" one of the best selling albums ever.

In 1968, DiLeo began his music industry career as a sales rep and promotion executive with CBS Records, and then during the 1970's he worked in promotion for Monument Records and RCA Records, until joining Epic.

While at Epic, DiLeo played a key role in the success experienced by such artists as Cyndi Lauper, Culture Club, Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne, REO Speedwagon, Survivor, Gloria Estefan, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Heart, and Luther Vandross, according to Larry Stessel, who worked alongside him at Epic.

After the success of "Thriller," DiLeo became Jackson's manager, responsible for all aspects of his career. His affiliation with Jackson lasted through the 1980's, but then abruptly ended.

In the early 1990's, Frank Dileo Management handled the careers of Taylor Dayne, Laurga Branigan, and Jodeci. Concurrently with running his management company, DiLeo also served as co-president of Savage Records from 1991-1993.

Since then, DLleo remained active in the music industry, even co-managing the Jacksons for a time in the mid 1990's.

In recent years, he had been heading up his own firm Dileo Entertainment Group based in Nashville.

He is survived by his wife Linda, daughter Belinda, son Dominic and grandson Frank Michael.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• frank
• dileo

[bubblesdew6]

RIP Frank love you

[MrsMJ2007]

R.I.P. Frank. Regardless of the many negative things that people have said about Frank Dileo over the last 3 decades, I believe in my heart he always loved and cared about Michael. They remained close friends even after Michael fired him as his manager in 1989. He was there for Michael during his turbulent times. He took Michael's death pretty hard. I hope now he has found his peace alongside Michael. God bless you, Frank. :(

[stacielynnx0]

& neither of you ever answered my question, if you hate him so much why would you even take time out of your lifes to watch this or read up on him to know all of these so-called facts? he's never served time and only has 2 charges from the 70s for making college basketball bets. i'd hardly consider that as organized crime or putting him in the mob.

[stacielynnx0]

@NegroXFile he was never in the mafia, like he stated before "there hasn't been organized crime since capone died." @pissedoff7771 we jump on race calling? you just called me a wop. it's funny you guys hate my uncle who you never knew but take time out of your lives to watch a tribute to him and comment on it multiple times talking shit when you know NOTHING first hand. it's too bad the best of the mafia is gone, they'd leave people like you lifeless with an ace of spades.

[NegroXFile]

@stacielynnx0 Fuck that fucking fat slob ass Mafia Motherfucker Frank Dileo. He was a fucking crook and he is birning in hell as we speak bitch so get used to it.

[pissedoff7771]

you fuck 98out of a hundred cant be wrong you mother fuckers the first thing you jump on is the race calling names you wop.

[stacielynnx0]

@NegroXFile get a fucking life that doesn't involve my uncle tookie. if you don't like him, why are you watching a video of him or even searching his name on here? you didn't know him personally because you aren't family, you knew whatever the news or internet said which is 98% bullshit. and about us being italian, this is one of the many reasons why we used to give people like you cement shoes. RIP Uncle Tookie. I love you.

[stacielynnx0]

@pissedoff7771 ..that "fat rat" is known as uncle tookie to me & the rest of our family. you never met him & don't know shit except what you've heard. i got to spend 21 years with him & he was one of the most loving, generous people i know. it's hard enough that my entire family had to live for 5 months knowing he was eventually going to leave us & then mourn his loss, which we still are, & now read your comments. if you hate my uncle, don't watch a tribute to him you fucking worthless loser.

[avemariaconcertfesti]

Ave Maria Concert Festivals.

[pissedoff7771]

JUST BECAUSE HE WORK FOR MICHEAL THAT DOESNT MAKE HIM KING SHIT.MICHEAL HAD ALOT OF ASS HOLES WORKING FOR HIM.AS FAR AS KNOCKING SEBNSE INTO SOME ONE TRY KNOCKING SOME INTO YOURSELF.ASS WIPE! MICHEAL SHOULD OF GOT RID ALOT OF PEOPLE WORKING FOR HIM.HE WOULD STILL BE HERE!

[pissedoff7771]

KISS MY ASS!

[TheMidnightDarkness1]

pissendoff7771 IF YOU HATE FRANK WHY YOU ON HERE???