Renowned Black Music Promoter Alan Lott Dies of Heart Attack in Pasadena

Alan E. Lott pictured with his wife, Lygia

 

Alan E. Lott, one of the first black music promoters in the country, died from a heart attack in Pasadena last week. He was 67 years old.

Lott spent more than half his lifetime in the industry, with clients including incomparable artists Brian McKnight, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight & the Pips and Kirk Franklin.

The legendary music promoter also contributed to bringing hip-hop into the mainstream, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Lott was born in Philadephia in 1946 and was raised in Moorestown, New Jersey, where he attended high school.

His career in the music record industry started when he worked as a record department buyer at the Gimbels Department Store in Center City.

Lott lived in the era when promoters waited for disk jockeys to arrive at work and even offer them things such as coffee, doughnuts or sandwiches, just to provide some air-time in promoting specified artists, the Inquirer reported.

The music promoter spent most of his life working for New-York based Atlantic Records, where he was one of the first black senior vice presidents for promotion. He also founded and became the first president of the Philadelphia Record Promoters Association.

He and his wife Lygia founded in 1991 the Coast II Coast Music Marketing, a public relations company that promotes music artists nationwide. He stopped working after he suffered from stroke a few years ago, the newpaper reported.

Lott is survived by Lygia; their six children: Damon, Danielle, Briana, Bianca, Aja and Harlan; his six grandchildren; two sisters; and a brother.

Radio personality Patty Jackson, Lott’s acquaintance for 30 years, will host a private memorial for the music promoter at the Mansion on Main Street Voorhis Township, New Jersey, on Saturday, March 29, at 11:00 a.m.