JACK NELSON, RIP
Longtime artist manager Jack Nelson passed away from COVID-19 on 4/27 in Nashville. During a career that spanned over 50 years, Jack spent time at Blue Thumb and became the first manager of Queen.
Longtime artist manager Jack Nelson passed away from COVID-19 on 4/27 in Nashville. Jack's career in the music business spanned over 50 years, beginning in a family-owned record shop in Westwood Village, Calif. Following a stint as a distribution rep, he became a partner at legendary label Blue Thumb.
In the early 1970s, Jack moved to London, where he became a partner at Trident Production Co. During his time there, Trident signed Queen, and Jack became their first manager. He managed Queen for the first five years of their career, securing the band's deal with EMI Records.
Jack returned to L.A. in the mid-’70s to open EMI’s Beverly Hills offices. He then joined the team at BNB Management before starting his own management company, Jack Nelson & Associates (later renamed J Nelson Entertainment).
Over the years, Jack managed artists including Maxine Nightingale, Chaka Khan, Joyce Kennedy, Kathy Sledge and Jeffrey Osborne, his client for 35 years.
Jack is survived by his wife Penny and three children, Jon, Dan and Joanna. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund.