How did Charles Koppelman die? Music executive, 82, headed Martha Stewart and Steve Madden’s firms
NEW YORK CITY: Charles Koppelman, the legendary music executive who oversaw EMI Records, Martha Stewart and Steve Madden's firms during his illustrious career died on November 25 at the age of 82. Koppelman died following a protracted illness with friends and family by his side, according to reports.
Koppelman had a renowned career in entertainment and other fields. He first played in a group named The Ivy Three who were responsible for the 1960 hit song ‘Hey, Yogi,’ and later worked as a songwriter for Don Kirshner, a veteran of the music business, alongside legendary songwriters Carole King and Gerry Goffin. Koppelman, however, ended managing Kirshner's Aldon Music at the age of 24 when a friend made the joke that he was "the worst songwriter in [Kirshner's] stable." Prior to establishing his own imprint, he first served as managing director of Screen Gems/Columbia Music.
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Koppelman assisted in facilitating Dolly Parton's transition from country to pop by identifying ‘Here You Come Again’ along the way as a tune for her. Tim Hardin, Wilson Phillips, Vanilla Ice and the Lovin' Spoonful are just a few of the popular and diverse recording artists he assisted in discovering. He is known to have executive produced six of Barbra Streisand's albums in addition to co-producing Bobby Darin's ground-breaking song ‘If I Were A Carpenter.’ An expert in the field informed Page Six that “he chose all the songs and helped make her a pop music superstar by finding a more modern sound and pairing her with artists like Donna Summer, Barry Gibb and Neil Diamond.” The enormously popular duets record by Frank Sinatra which signaled Ol' Blue Eyes' return to Capitol were also a product of Koppelman's creativity.
In addition to being a businessman, Koppelman built the biggest independent music publishing company before selling it to EMI. He was the CEO and Chairman of EMI Music Publishing and EMI Records Group North America and also established SBK Records. He rose to the position of chairman of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and Steve Madden after quitting EMI at the age of 57. Along with serving on other boards, he was a director of SeaWorld and the Las Vegas Sands Corporation. An unnamed experienced musician claimed that Koppelman had “a remarkable career made even more so by his dyslexia and his extremely modest economic origins — as a kid growing up in Laurelton, Queens, who was a physical education major in college before he was kicked out for playing cards when he should have been in class.”
His son, Brian Koppelman, co-creator of the television show ‘Billions,’ said on Instagram: “The only thing that matters is how much I loved him. And how much he taught me about every single thing that matters. He lived exactly the life he wanted to live. And he spent his last days surrounded by those he loved the most. Pop, thank you.” While his daughter Jenny Koppelman Hutt stated on Facebook and Instagram: “With a very heavy heart, we want to share that our beloved father, pop-pop and best friend Charles Koppelman passed away peacefully earlier today surrounded by his entire family. His larger-than-life presence will be with us forever.” Apart from his son Brian and daughter Jenny, Koppelman is survived by his wife Gerri Kyhill Koppelman and daughter Stacy Koppelman Fritz.