John McClane, the music executive who served as co-executor of Michael Jackson’s estate for more than a decade, has died. He was 71 years old.
McClain died Tuesday after complications from a fall, representatives for the executive said, adding that he was “surrounded by loving friends and his nephew, Warner Wright.”
A Los Angeles native, McLean has worked closely with the Jackson family since the 1980s, having started out as a music director and session musician, with credits on recordings for the likes of Gladys Knight, Diana Ross and Lionel Richie. McLean grew up around music. His father opened the It Club, which hosted jazz legends like Miles Davis and John Coltrane, while his mother was a pianist.
After being appointed director of black music at A&M Records, he played a key role in developing Janet Jackson into a star, bringing her together with the production duo Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, creating albums. He controls and Rhythm Nation. He joined Interscope in the label’s early days, and played a key role in signing Dr. Dre through the rapper’s Death Row Records.
A long-time friend of Michael, he was named co-executor of Michael Jackson’s estate alongside the pop icon’s attorney, John Branca, after the King of Pop’s death in 2009. Together, the duo has been instrumental in managing Jackson’s musical legacy, overcoming financial difficulties and the controversy surrounding sexual assault allegations against Jackson and keeping the late artist’s business thriving, as recently demonstrated by Michael, Which is on pace to become the highest-grossing music biopic of all time.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of my partner and brother, John McClain,” Branca said in a statement. “John was one of the great innovators in the world of music and music marketing, a visionary who saw beyond the mundane and looked to the future.”
“When we were mentioned in Michael’s will,” Branca continued. “I knew he would bring insight to Michael’s music and that his friendship and dedication to Michael would underscore all the great projects we could bring to the world. He brought passion and a sense of conviction to everything he did and was the most generous friend. It’s hard to imagine a world without him.”
