Jeff Cheen, a music icon whose career spanned decades, has died.
He was 80.
His wife, Chunhong, said he died after battling cancer.
The music promoter was known for his work with the likes of John Lennon, Deep Purple, Rick James and Pink Floyd. He was known, too, for bringing music such as American pop, jazz and reggae to China.
Thanks to Cheen’s work, The Daily Express reported that Chinese musicians began to appreciate the music, and Cheen ended up producing a pair of Chinese reggae albums, a Chinese jazz album and even a Chinese country album.
He spent 13 years in China bringing touring acts through the country before returning to the United States and took a role as the VP of business development for B.B. King’s blues clubs. He also managed worldwide corporate licensing according to The Daily Express.
Cheen served as an executive for labels such as Tetragrammaton, Mercury, Capitol and Far Out Music, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
He also served as a consultant for the Ministry of Culture for the People’s Republic of China and for Ausmusic in Australia.
The Hollywood Reporter noted that his InterStar Music was the first Western company to enter into a joint venture with the Chinese to distribute rock and pop music across Asia.
Among his other accomplishments, Cheen taught a course on business music at Catawba College and founded the Charlotte Music Awards in 2006, per The Hollywood Reporter.
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