R.I.P.: Philly Record Promoter Alan Lott

Alan Lott

Alan E. Lott, a legendary music promoter who began his career in the Philadelphia record business, died from a heart attack Wednesday, March 5, in Pasadena, Calif.

He was 67, according to philly.com.

A South Jersey native, Lott spent more than 40 years in the industry and worked with such musical giants as Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Kirk Franklin, and Brian McKnight.

He enjoyed music of all genres and helped break hip-hop into the mainstream, working with artists such as the Fat Boys, Public Enemy, and the Sugarhill Gang.

'Thanks A' Lott earned a reputation during a bygone era, when promoters stalked radio stations and pressured disc jockeys to give air time to their artists.

It was not unusual for promoters to wait in the station parking lot for disc jockeys to arrive for their shift. They would usually have something to offer - coffee and doughnuts or a sandwich.

Mr. Lott began his career at Marnel Record Distributors in Philadelphia in the '60s.  He later joined the promotion team at Warner-Elektra-Atlantic. Mr. Lott became one of the first black senior vice presidents of promotion for Atlantic Records in New York. He later worked for Buddha Records and several other record companies.

In 1991, he formed Coast II Coast Marketing & Promotion with his wife, Lygia. He stopped working several years ago after suffering a stroke.