Managerobit: Gary Kurfirst

Former manager and label executive Gary Kurfirst has died while holidaying in the Bahamas.

Kurfirst started out promoting gigs in Manhattan, and in 1969 created the New York Rock Festival, inadvertently providing one of the inspirations for Woodstock. He also ran his own record labels and publishing businesses, but it as a manager that he really secured his career. In his time, he represented The Ramones, The Talking Heads, Jane's Addicition, Mick Jones, Shirley Manson and The Eurythmics.

The cause of his death at the age of 61 is unknown; he is survived by his wife, his mother, two children and two grandchildren.