BRIT MUSIC VET
OBERSTEIN PASSES AWAY

Legendary U.K. music executive Maurice Oberstein, known to friends and colleagues as "Obie," passed away Sunday in London after a long bout with leukemia at the age of 72. Although he was born in New York, Oberstein made his musical mark over the pond.

The former British Phonographic Industry Chairman was credited as one of the founders of the modern U.K. record industry. He was head of the British music trade equivalent to the RIAA from 1983-'86 and from 1991-'93. He was awarded the org's Music Industry Trusts Award in '93.

Oberstein followed in the footsteps of his father Eli, who was head of A&R at RCA Records before starting the jazz Allegro label. Maurice eventually sold the company after his father's death and joined the international department of CBS Records in New York. In 1965, he moved to the U.K. to join the label's new subsidiary in London as chief engineer for manufacturing. He was named Managing Director for CBS U.K. in 1975 and Chairman in '78. In 1985, he was named Chairman/CEO in PolyGram U.K., where he remained until 1992.