Prominent artist manager Michael Lippman has died aged 79.
Lippman was surrounded by his family at his home in Santa Ynez, California, when he passed away yesterday (December 29), per Rolling Stone. No cause of death has been given.
“Dad was a relentless advocate for his clients, his friends, and his family,” his son Josh said in a statement. “He was the person you wanted in your corner in any situation. He transitioned from bulldog to effortless charmer on a dime, often multiple times in a conversation, and never met a challenge he couldn’t solve.”
His son Nick, added: “Michael was my mentor and the greatest teacher. For over twenty years, we travelled the world and shared a bond that grew deeper with time. We spoke every day and often finished each other’s sentences. Our relationship was shaped by the work we did side by side, and a bond of love, trust, and mutual respect.”
Lippman was known for guiding the careers of Matchbox Twenty and Rob Thomas, George Michael and Elton John’s writing partner Bernie Taupin.
During the ’70s, he represented David Bowie during his Ziggy Stardust era, after the two worked together on the 1976 sci-fi film The Man Who Fell To Earth.
He was with Bowie during many career milestones, including his iconic Soul Train performance and his 1975 Number One single ‘Fame’.
Lippman was most known for working with George Michael, from his post-Wham! launch as a solo artist, until his death in 2016. Their relationship came after Lippman “fell in love” with Michael’s 1987 solo debut album ‘Faith’, and became intent on making him “the biggest thing in the world”.
As well as Michael, Lippman worked with songwriters and producers as clients, including Elton John’s writing partner Bernie Taupin, and Matchbox Twenty and frontman Rob Thomas.
Throughout his career, Lippman admitted that he cultivated a reputation for being intimidating in order to get the best for his clients, telling Billboard in 2016: “You’re fighting 10 other managers. I want more time, attention and money spent on my artists than the nine other guys. So I created this persona that people respected and slightly feared and hopefully, if things went the right way, I got what I wanted.”
For the last two decades, Lippman and his son Nick have partnered on management clients and other businesses under the banner Lippman Entertainment. In 2016, he said: “I believe I’m the luckiest guy in the world to have been able to work with my two sons and my brother in the same business.”
He is survived by his wife Nancy; sons Josh and Nick; daughter-in-law Lauren; granddaughters Olivia and Jordan; and grandsons Zachary and Tucker.
