Pioneering Label Exec Jim Tyrrell Dies At 67

NEW YORK‹Jim Tyrrell, who had a varied, pioneering career in the music industry as an executive, musician, and personal manager, died of heart failure July 20 in New York. He was 67.
Tyrrell, a onetime live and studio musician in his native New York, had a 10-year career at what was then CBS Records, starting in 1968 as a product manager at Columbia. From 1970 to '78, he worked at Epic Records and CBS Associated Labels under Ron Alexenburg, now head of the National Record Co. in New York.
At the time, Tyrrell was believed to have been the first African-American to hold the title of senior VP at the company, Alexenburg says. Tyrrell also was a pioneer as a major-label black executive who handled sales for both black and white artists. During his years at CBS Records, he mapped sales programs for such artists as Clint Holmes, Jeff Beck, LaBelle, Harold Melvin & the Bluenotes, the O'Jays (via Philadelphia International Records), Cheap Trick, Ted Nugent, and REO Speedwagon, among many others.
After leaving CBS, Tyrrell formed T-Electric Records, which was distributed by MCA Records. Later, he served as managing director of the Kingston, Jamaica-based Tuff Gong Ltd., founded by the late Bob Marley.
In recent years, he was a consultant and personal manager.
Tyrrell was a founding member and officer of the Fraternity of Recording Executives and of the Black Music Assn. He conceived and founded the PACE Scholarship Fund to benefit high school graduates with intentions to go to college.
He is survived by his wife, Ruby; two daughters, Joy and Cheryl; a son, Milton; and grandchildren Chad and Ryan.
A memorial service is scheduled for Monday (27) at the National Black Theatre in New York. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the National Black Theatre or WBAI New York.