Mileposts

DEATHS

Andrew J. Locandro, 78, of cancer, June 21 in Marietta, Ga. Locandro spent 30 years as a Capitol Records regional sales representative in his native New Jersey, retiring in 1989. His Capitol tenure included the wildly successful Beatles era, at which time the sales rep demonstrated some unusual initiative. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, when Locandro was suddenly faced with a store's order for 200 or 300 Beatles records—vastly more than the store would normally order on a popular album—he drove to the record-pressing plant, grabbed a stack of "Meet the Beatles" albums in plain paper sleeves and promised store owners he would come back with the photo jackets later.

Survivors include his wife, son, three siblings and seven grandchildren.



Sol Saffian, 68, of cancer, July 21 in Nashville. In a career that spanned almost 50 years, the renowned booking agent represented such musical luminaries as Louis Armstrong; Chubby Checker; Sam Cooke; the Four Tops; Neil Diamond; Kool & the Gang; Earth, Wind & Fire; and Reba McEntire. Credited as one of the first high-profile agents to demand equal pay for black artists, Saffian took on several Motown performers and within weeks brought their performance pay to the level of other artists. In 1970, he started his own agency, American Talent International, whose clients included Rod Stewart, ZZ Top and Kiss. Saffian then went on to head what later became known as the urban music department at the William Morris Agency. He spent the last years before his retirement in 1996 at Buddy Lee Attractions.

Saffian is survived by two children. Memorial donations can be made in his name to Alive Hospice, 1718 Patterson St., Nashville, Tenn. 37203.