September 08, 2009

By By Evan C. Jones, N.Y.

Music industry veteran Skip Miller died Friday (Sept. 4) in Los Angeles. He was 62.

Miller was born in New York City. After graduating with a chemistry degree from Hofstra University, he was drafted by the Oakland Raiders and served in the Vietnam War. Miller started his career in the music industry at Motown Records in 1971, eventually becoming president and working with artists such as Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Smokie Robinson and Diana Ross. He was named the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA) music executive of the year in 1980.

After Motown Records was sold to MCA in 1988, Miller became senior VP of black, jazz and progressive music for RCA Records and worked with artists such as SWV, Me Phi Me, Stacy Earl, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, Too Short, KRS-1, Mobb Deep and the Wu-Tang Clan.

He also became the president of Lion Tracks, where he managed Lionel Richie, and founded the Panda Entertainment Group.

Miller is survived by his wife KC (Karen) Miller and two sons, Justin and Dominic Miller and mother Sybil Levy Blum.

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