Dee Anthony

ANTHONY Legendary music manager and impresario Dee Anthony, who guided the careers of artists as diverse as Tony Bennett, Peter Frampton and Peter Allen passed away Sunday, October 25, 2009 in Connecticut. He was 83 years old. During a career that spanned over 50 years, Anthony was a seminal figure in the music industry, whose managerial skills helped pave the way and set new standards for rock music. He first gained major prominence when rock and roll began to take off during the mid-1960's. Anthony led the charge in the United States by introducing to the American audience a host of fledgling young British rock bands, such as Traffic, Jethro Tull, Joe Cocker, Free, Spooky Tooth, Mott the Hoople, Savoy Brown and King Crimson, breaking them into headliner status as well as establishing many of those artists in the pantheon of rock. Anthony started his career as a personal manager in the music industry in the 1950s, working with a young Jerry Vale, a neighborhood friend. In 1954, Anthony met singer Tony Bennett at a Yonkers nightclub and went on to represent Bennett for well over the next decade. In 1968, Anthony, with his brother Bill, founded Bandana Enterprises, a global management company that sheparded the careers of artists such as Joe Cocker, Humble Pie, The J Geils Band, MC5, Ten Years After, and Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. But it would be Anthony's management of musician Peter Frampton that would cement his legendary status in the music industry. Anthony first met Frampton while managing Humble Pie, of which Frampton was a member. When Frampton left the band to pursue a solo career, Anthony continued to manage him, helping to launch one of the most successful solo careers of the 1970s. The double album, "Frampton Comes Alive," would shatter industry records, eventually selling more than 14 million copies worldwide. Anthony would also receive praise from his industry peers, being named "Billboard Manager of the Year" in 1976 and 1977. During the 1980s, Anthony continued to manage music artists including Peter Allen, Basia, and Devo. Anthony retired from the business in the mid-1990s. Dee Anthony, was born Anthony D'Addario and grew up in the Bronx. In 1944, he joined the Navy serving in the submarine force. During his three years of service he was decorated with three medals-- the Victory Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Medal and the American Theater Medal. Anthony then returned to New York City, opened a luncheonette, and followed his passion for show business. Anthony is survived by his wife, Valerie, four daughters, Michele, Marla, Vanessa and Jessica, two brothers, Bill Anthony and Bobby D'Addario, sister Tina Cursio, and six grandchildren, Jack, Charlotte, Olivia, Joey, Dylan, and Chase. Anthony's daughter, Michele has carried on the family business. During her career she became the highest-ranking female record company executive as the President and COO of Sony Music. Currently she is a music industry consultant, whose clients have included Pearl Jam, Bjork, Macy Gray, Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, and Prince. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, October 28th from 6 to 9 p.m. and a memorial service will be held on Thursday, October 29th at 11am both at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Chapel in New York City. In lieu of flowers, please send donations in Dee Anthony's name to "Wounded Warrior Regiment", C/O Charitable Organizations, 3025 John Quick Road, Quantico, VA 22134.