Famed artist manager Elliot Roberts has passed away, with many of those whose careers he shaped sharing tributes to the late music icon.
If you’ve ever listened to music by the likes of Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, the Eagles, Tom Petty, Talking Heads, Bad Religion, Spiritualized, or Devo, then you’ve undoubtedly been a party to the wide-ranging influence that late manager Elliot Roberts had upon the world.
As Variety reports, the artist manager passed away on Friday morning at the age of 76, with no immediate cause of death being announced.
After giving up plans of being an actor, Roberts went to work with the iconic William Morris Agency in the ’60s, where he soon befriended David Geffen, helping create Asylum Records, which would later merge with Elektra Records within a few years.
However, it was his work with some of the biggest names in music that made him famous, with his career as a manager kicking off back in 1966, when he teamed up with Joni Mitchell, whose then-boyfriend David Crosby sought his guidance as well.
In a statement released after the passing of Eliot Roberts, Graham Nash of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young described him as “funny, [a] brilliant friend and devoted manager.”
“His life touched many people, and he brought forth the best in people,” Nash explained. “He was the glue that kept CSNY together in our early years and I will certainly miss him with sadness in my heart.”
However, Roberts’ longest-serving partnership was undoubtedly that of Neil Young, with whom he had worked since back in 1967 – one year before the release of his self-titled debut solo record.
In a post on his personal website, Young penned an emotional tribute to Roberts, describing him as someone who put others first, regardless of the situation.
“We are all heartbroken, but want to share what a great human being Elliot has been,” Young began.
“Never one to think about himself, he put everyone else first. That’s what he did for me for over fifty years of friendship love and laughter, managing my life, protecting our art in the business of music. That’s what he did.”
“He was my best friend in the world for so many years, and he was so happy for me and the life I had found, with Daryl [Hannah], my wonderful wife and soul sharer.”
Elliot Roberts is survived by his sons Jason, Ethan, Matthew and Zackary, and partner Dana Fineman.
Check out an interview with Elliot Roberts:
