Gabe Ginsberg/Getty ImagesElliot Roberts, who managed Neil Young for over 50 years and also oversaw the careers of many other top artists, died Friday morning at age 76, according to an official statement by his management company. No cause of death was given.
The statement notes that over the years, Roberts also guided the careers of Stephen Stills, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
Roberts, born Elliot Rabinowitz in The Bronx, New York, was just 23 when he began managing Mitchell, and took on Young as his client shortly thereafter. He soon formed a management company with future music mogul David Geffen, and in 1971 they founded Asylum Records, which signed Mitchell, The Eagles, Dylan and Linda Ronstadt.
Roberts eventually split with Geffen, and focused on artist management.
Young wrote a lengthy tribute to Roberts on his official website, calling Elliot “the greatest manager of all time,” and praising his generosity, sense of humor, business savvy and love for his children.
“Never one to think about himself, he put everyone else first,” Neil writes. “That’s what he did for me for over fifty years of friendship love and laughter, managing my life, protecting our art in the business of music.”
Stills and Graham Nash also issued statements paying homage to Roberts.
Stills, “Elliot Roberts was the probably the kindest, gentlest, and far and away the funniest man I ever worked with in Show Business. He was also tough as a barbed wire fence, fiercely loyal and keenly observant…But his greatest gift was his soulful, open heart.”
Nash called Elliot “the glue that kept CSNY together in our early years,” adding, “I will certainly miss him with sadness in my heart.”
Roberts is survived by his four sons and his partner Dana Fineman.
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