Andre Harrell death: Uptown Records founder dies aged 59

Mark Ronson and director Ava DuVernay were among those to pay tribute

Uptown Records founder Andre Harrell has died (Rex)

Music mogul and Uptown Records founder Andre Harrell has died aged 59.

News of Harrell’s death was announced by DJ D-Nice via an Instagram Live on 9 May. The cause of his death is currently unknown.

Raised in the Bronx, New York, Harrell launched his career in music with Alonzo Brown as half of the Eighties hip-hop duo, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

Harrell was later hired by Def Jam after meeting label founder Russell Simmons, and worked his way up to become the company’s vice president and general manager.

He left to launch his own NYC-based label, Uptown Records, which achieved early success with acts including Heavy D & the Boyz, and R&B singer Al B Sure!

However, one of Harrell’s most notable achievements was the discovery of Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs, later known as Diddy, who began at Uptown as one of Harrell’s interns.

Diddy assisted with developing major Nineties R&B stars including Mary J Blige and Jodeci, but was fired by Harrell in 1993 and went onto start Bad Boy Records with his friend, The Notorious BIG / Biggie Smalls. The relationship remained amicable, with Harrell later explaining that he knew it had been time for Diddy “to grow”.

Harrell later left his label in 1995 to become CEO of Motown Records, but achieved little success and was fired two years later.

In December last year, it was announced that Harrell would work with BET to create a miniseries based on the story of Uptown Records.

Many of Harrell’s former colleagues, fans, and admirers have expressed grief at news of his death on social media.

“Whether we knew it or not, he had such a huge influence on the R&B/hip-hop my generation grew up loving,” John Legend tweeted. “He signed and mentored so many great artists, made so much great music happen, helped shape the culture.”

“RIP to Andre Harrell God Bless him,” 50 Cent said.

Why Andre?” Mariah Carey wrote. “My heart is breaking and I can’t stop crying. He was an amazing friend and I will miss him forever.”

“You were a mentor, a friend, a giant influence on me,” Mark Ronson wrote in a lengthy tribute on Instagram. “I looked up to you so much and more importantly, you looked out for me … you were so cool and smart, I just wanted to absorb everything that was in your brain.”

He continued: “I’ll never forget the time you took me to buy my first nice suit, one afternoon before a gig in Paris. I had no f***ing idea what shopping in Paris was.

I actually didn’t know clothes could be that expensive and nearly had a heart attack when they rang up the total, but you looked at me and shrugged like, “hey, you want to look fly, kid? Don’t worry you’ll make that money back in a few weeks…okay, maybe months, whatever.

“You knew so much and got a kick out of introducing people to new culture, new ways. Later in life when I would run into you, you’d let me know how proud of all my successes you were.”

Director Ava DuVernay wrote: “Saluting Andre Harrell. The architect of so much music, so much culture.”