Jerry Heller

Gerald Elliot "Jerry" Heller (October 6, 1940 – September 2, 2016) was an American music manager and businessman. He was best known for managing West Coast rap supergroup and gangsta rap pioneers N.W.A and Eazy-E.

Jerry Heller
Born	Gerald Elliot Heller (1940-10-06)October 6, 1940 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Died	September 2, 2016(2016-09-02) (aged 75) Thousand Oaks, California, United States
Cause of death	Heart attack
Resting place	Eden Memorial Park Cemetery
Nationality	American
Occupation	Music manager
Years active	1963–2015

Early life

Heller was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He studied at the University of Southern California.

Career

Heller became famous 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, REO Speedwagon, Black Sabbath, Humble Pie, Styx, The Grass Roots and The Standells, among many others.

In the mid-1980s he 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.

Heller played a role in the emergence of West Coast rap music when he managed 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.

Death

Heller suffered from a heart attack while driving, resulting in an auto accident. He later died on September 2, 2016 in Thousand Oaks, California.^[1][2][2]