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Pioneering music director Charles Koppelman dies at 82
Charles Koppelman – the famous music executive who headed EMI Records as well as the companies Martha Stewart and Steve Madden during his illustrious career – died Friday at the age of 82, his family announced.
A source told Page Six that Koppelman died after a long illness and spent his final days surrounded by friends and family.
His son, Brian Koppelman, co-creator of the hit show Billions, wrote on Instagram on Friday that he would write a longer tribute, but “The only thing that matters is how much I loved him. And how much he taught me about every important thing. He lived exactly as he wanted. And he spent his last days surrounded by those he loved most. Dad, thank you.
Jenny Koppelman Hutt, daughter announced on Facebook and Instagram: “It is with a very heavy heart that we share the news that our beloved pop-pop father and best friend, Charles Koppelman, passed away peacefully today surrounded by his entire family. His extraordinary presence will be with us forever.
Koppelman’s career in entertainment and beyond has been legendary.
After joining the band The Ivy Three, who performed the 1960 hit “Hey Yogi”, he became a songwriter for industry veteran Don Kirshner, along with famed tuners Gerry Goffin and Carole King. But a friend joked that Koppelman was “the worst songwriter ever [Kirshner’s] stable”, so he ran Kirshner’s Aldon Music instead at age 24.
He then served as Managing Director of Screen Gems/Columbia Music before starting his own label.
Along the way, Koppelman identified “Here You Come Again” as a song for Dolly Parton and helped launch the country star into pop. It also helped discover artists as diverse and successful as Lovin’ Spoonful, Vanilla Ice, Wilson Phillips and Tim Hardin. He co-produced Bobby Darin’s breakthrough song “If I Were A Carpenter” and executive produced half a dozen Barbra Streisand albums.
An industry insider told us, “He picked all the songs and helped her become a pop superstar by finding a more modern sound and pairing her with artists like Donna Summer, Barry Gibb and Neil Diamond.”
Koppelman was also instrumental in creating Frank Sinatra’s hugely successful Duets album, which marked the return of Ol’ Blue Eyes to Capitol.
Koppelman was also a business leader – building the largest independent music publishing company before selling it to EMI. He founded SBK Records and was president and CEO of EMI Music Publishing and EMI Records Group North America.
After leaving EMI at the age of 57, he became a corporate leader as president of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and Steve Madden. He also served on the board of directors of Las Vegas Sands Corporation, SeaWorld and others.
The music veteran told us that Koppelman had “a remarkable career, enhanced even more by his dyslexia and extremely modest economic background – as a kid growing up in Laurelton, Queens who studied physical education in college before getting kicked out for playing cards when he should have been be in class.
In addition to son Brian and daughter Jenny, Koppelman is survived by daughter Stacy Koppelman Fritz and his wife Gerri Kyhill Koppelman. He was previously married to Brenda “Bunny” Koppelman until her death in 2008. Koppelman remarried in 2011.
One family member said: “His seven grandchildren were the center of his life. Along with his table at Rao’s.