Troy Blakely
{{Short description|American talent agent (1949–2018)}}
Troy Blakely (December 18, 1949 {{ndash}} February 10, 2018) was an American talent agent, Executive Vice President, Managing Partner and Head of Music for the Agency for the Performing Arts (APA).{{cite web|title=TenPercenteries|url=https://variety.com/1998/more/news/tenpercenteries-126-1117479135/|work=Variety|date=5 August 1998 |publisher=Variety Media, LLC|accessdate=20 March 2013}} Blakely was made Head of Music in 1998, made an EVP and Partner in 2002{{cite web|title=News for Troy Blakely|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2250792/news?year=2007|work=IMDB|publisher=IMDB.com, inc.|accessdate=20 March 2013}} and was made a Managing Partner with the new set of Managing Partners in 2005,{{cite web|title=Testimonials|url=http://eslmusicgroup.com/about/testimonials/|work=ESL Music Group|accessdate=20 March 2013}} reshaping APA.
Background
Blakely was born just outside Detroit, Michigan to Albert Blakely, a steel worker, and his wife, Grace.{{cite web|url=https://www.pollstar.com/article/legendary-apa-head-of-music-troy-blakely-dead-at-68-134530|title=LEGENDARY APA HEAD OF MUSIC TROY BLAKELY DEAD AT 68|date=11 February 2018|publisher=Pollstar|author=Speer, Debbie}} He was raised and schooled in Southgate, Michigan. In his teens, he performed and played guitar with numerous Michigan bands. After starting college in 1968, he left in 1969 to become the tour manager for Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, who were then managed by Barry Kramer, owner of Creem magazine.{{cite news|last=McKinley|first=James|title=Rock Chronicle Inspires Battle Over Its Legacy|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/28/arts/music/the-future-of-creem-magazine-is-complicated.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|work=The New York Times|date=27 July 2011 |accessdate=20 March 2013}} He moved to New York City in 1970 to work as Assistant Tour Manager for Johnny Winter under Teddy Slatus,{{cite book|last=Sullivan|first=Mary Lou|title=Raisin' Cain: The Wild and Raucous Story of Johnny Winter|year=2010|publisher=Backbeat Books|location=Milwaukee, WI|isbn=978-0879309732|page=313|url=http://johnnywinterbook.com/--_managers}} at that time one of the best tour managers in the music business. After assisting in putting together Edgar Winter and White Trash, he returned to Michigan to work as tour manager for Detroit featuring Mitch Ryder,{{cite web
|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/detroit-mn0000818155
|title=Detroit: biography
|work=All Music
|accessdate=20 March 2013
}} who had just released their album Detroit on Paramount Records with Danny Goldberg.{{cite book|last=Goldberg|first=Danny|title=How the Left Lost Teen Spirit|year=2003|publisher=RDV Books/Akashic Books|location=New York|isbn=978-0-9719206-8-2|page=84|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jVcOCzR4Hb4C&dq=danny+goldberg+detroit+mitch+ryder&pg=PA84}} In late 1972, he was offered the position of agent for Diversified Management Agency (DMA) located in Sterling Heights, Michigan.{{cite book|last=Zalkind|first=Ronald|title=Contemporary Music Almanac|url=https://archive.org/details/contemporarymusi00zalk|url-access=registration|year=1980|publisher=Schirmer Books|location=University of Michigan|isbn=978-0028729602|page=[https://archive.org/details/contemporarymusi00zalk/page/352 352]}}
Career
While at DMA, representing artists such as Ted Nugent,{{citation|last=Steward|first=Doug|title=Music, Movies and Mingling|work=Leaving winter behind in the West: Music in LA|publisher=Bradley University}} Bob Seger, Iggy and the Stooges, MC5, Nazareth, Golden Earring, Canned Heat, Birtha, Lighthouse, The Raspberries, and Blackfoot, he signed Tim Buckley, Sammy Hagar, Scorpions and Triumph.{{cite web|title=Troy Blakely - 2010 Hollywood FAME Award - Career Achievement Entertainment Executive video|url=https://www.nme.com/nme-video/youtube/id/bs0xaMsQWXM/search/|publisher=NME|accessdate=20 March 2013}} He departed DMA in January 1981 and for a brief time was employed by Magna Artists of Los Angeles,{{cite magazine|title=3 New Panels Due at Talent Forum|magazine=Billboard|date=15 August 1981|volume=93|series=32|issue=6–2510|page=33|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_CMEAAAAMBAJ&dq=troy+blakely+agent&pg=PT32|accessdate=20 March 2013}} where he booked Ozzy Osbourne's first solo tour, Blizzard of Oz. In September 1981, he moved to International Creative Management (ICM),{{cite web|last=Deckard|first=Linda|title=Amusement Business Agents encourage facility managers to get into 'relationship cycle.' (booking agents and arena managers)|url=http://business.highbeam.com/53/article-1G1-14532460/agents-encourage-facility-managers-get-into-relationship|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927181519/http://business.highbeam.com/53/article-1G1-14532460/agents-encourage-facility-managers-get-into-relationship|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 September 2013|accessdate=20 March 2013}} taking with him Sammy Hagar and Triumph. While at ICM in Los Angeles, he signed Red Hot Chili Peppers and Poison.{{cite web|title=The Curse of Tour Buy-ons|url=http://weekly-bulletin.com/sendfiles/116.html|work=Music Connection Magazine|accessdate=20 March 2013}}{{cite magazine|last=Orshonski|first=Wes|title=Poison Trek Quiets Skeptics, Spurs Hair-Metal Revival|magazine=Billboard|date=6 July 2002|volume=114|series=27|issue=6–2510|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9QsEAAAAMBAJ&dq=troy+blakely+agent&pg=PA16|accessdate=20 March 2013}} In 1986, he moved to the ICM New York office where he expanded his roster to Boston, Faith No More, Alice in Chains, Kings X, Y&T, and The Black Crowes.{{cite web|title=Discogs: Alice In Chains - Dirt Discography|url=http://www.discogs.com/Alice-In-Chains-Dirt/release/982536|publisher=Discogs|accessdate=20 March 2013}} He also served as responsible agent for Rush, Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden and Robert Plant.
In September 1994, he left ICM and shortly after joined the Agency for the Performing Arts (APA) the same year, bringing along with him Poison, Brett Michaels, Boston and The Black Crowes. In 1998, he moved to the Los Angeles office to become the Head of Music for the agency. While at APA, he signed Robert Plant, Fleetwood Mac, Sammy Hagar, Heart, The Go-Go's, Lenny Kravitz, Judas Priest, Whitesnake, Zakk Wylde, Black Label Society, Ratt, Cinderella, Dokken, Sebastian Bach and Lita Ford.{{cite web|title=Something Big Discography|url=http://discog.fleetwoodmac.net/artist.php?fn=d1&gid=all&aid=12313|work=Fleetwood Mac Website|publisher=Martin and Lisa Adelson|accessdate=20 March 2013}}
On November 18, 2010, Blakely was presented with a Hollywood F.A.M.E. Award during the 20th Annual LA Music Awards.
Personal life and death
Blakely was married to Kelly Blakely.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/music/news/troy-blakely-apa-music-head-dead-1202694783/|title=Troy Blakely, Head of Music at APA, Dies at 68|website=Variety.com|date=February 11, 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2018/02/troy-blakely-dies-managing-partner-and-head-of-music-at-apa-1202285870/|title=Troy Blakely Dies: Managing Partner And Head Of Music At APA Was Top Agent|first=Bruce|last=Haring|publisher=Deadline Hollywood|date=February 11, 2018|accessdate=April 16, 2018}}
Blakely died {{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8099142/apa-managing-partner-troy-blakely-dead|title=APA Managing Partner Troy Blakely Passes Away|magazine=Billboard}} on February 10, 2018, at the age of 68.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ampthemag.com/the-real/troy-blakely-managing-partner-apa-passes-away/|title=Troy Blakely, Managing Partner at APA, Passes Away|date=February 11, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/02/troy-blakely-dies-managing-partner-and-head-of-music-at-apa-1202285870/|title=Troy Blakely Dies: Managing Partner And Head Of Music At APA Was Top Agent|publisher=Deadline|date=11 February 2018|author=Haring, Bruce}}
References
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Category:American talent agents