Jerry Heller

Gerald Elliot "Jerry" Heller (October 6, 1940 – September 2, 2016) was an American music manager and businessman. He was best known for managing West Coast rap supergroup and gangsta rap pioneers N.W.A and Eazy-E.

Early life
Heller was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He studied at the University of Southern California.

Career
Heller became famous in the 1960s and '70s, importing Elton John and Pink Floyd for their first major American tours, and representing Journey, Marvin Gaye,  Van Morrison, War, Eric Burdon, Crosby Stills and Nash, Ike & Tina Turner, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Otis Redding, The Who, REO Speedwagon, Black Sabbath, Humble Pie, Styx, The Grass Roots and The Standells, among many others.

In the mid-1980s he worked with R&B and hip hop acts like Michel'le, World Class Wreckin' Cru, J.J. Fad, The D.O.C., Egyptian Lover and L.A. Dream Team.

Heller played a role in the emergence of West Coast rap music when he managed Ruthless Records with Eazy-E and discovered, signed or managed the likes of N.W.A, The Black Eyed Peas, Above the Law, The D.O.C. and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.

Death
Heller suffered from a heart attack while driving, resulting in an auto accident. He later died on September 2, 2016 in Thousand Oaks, California.

References

Other websites

 "Jerry Heller". Heeb. March 24, 2009
 KCAL9  (Co-Founder Of Ruthless Records Jerry Heller Discusses New Memoir)
 Ruthless A Memoir (Simon & Schuster)
 Hip Hop & Politics (Interview with Jerry Heller)
 XXL Magazine (Ruthless Records Co-Founder Jerry Heller Claims Eazy-E Had Plans To Kill Suge Knight)
 Vibe Magazine (13 Hip-Hop Conspiracy Theories)
 HipHop DX  (Jerry Heller Claims He & Eazy-E Put The Source Magazine "In Business")
 Rolling Stone Magazine  (The 10 Wildest Rap Beefs Of All Time)
 AntiMusic.com (N.W.A's Straight Outta Compton Turns 25)

Category:1940 births
Category:2016 deaths
Category:Deaths from myocardial infarction
Category:Businesspeople from Cleveland