Dileo dies

FRANK DILEO, 63, the pony-tailed, cigar-smoking promotion exec who managed Michael Jackson from 1984-’89, then again right up to the superstar’s death in 2009, died after a triple bypass and heart valve replacement. The Pittsburgh native began his music industry career as a rack-jobber before being hired as a promotion staffer in Cleveland by Epic Records in 1968, followed by a stint at Bell Records. In 1979, Walter Yetnikoff hired him as VP National Promotion for Epic in N.Y., and he went on to build the label into a $250 million powerhouse. He took over managing Jackson after Thriller, serving as executive producer for the full-length movie Moonwalker, writing and executive producing three Pepsi-Cola commercials (after negotiating a landmark endorsement deal), and eight music videos, including the Grammy winning "Leave Me Alone.” DiLeo managed Jackson's Bad World Tour and the Jackson family’s Victory Tour. DiLeo also managed the careers of Taylor Dayne, Jodeci, Laura Branigan and Richie Sambora. He also had roles in GoodFellas and the two Wayne’s World movies, and founded DiLeo Entertainment Group, based in Nashville, which focused on managing and developing new artists and included a publishing company. (8/24a)