Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Jim Foglesong: Country music producer and label executive

 

Monday 15 July 2013 17:28 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Jim Foglesong, who died in Nashville on 9 July at the age of 90, was a record label executive and music producer who helped launch Garth Brooks' career. Foglesong, a West Virginia native, began his career in New York as a session singer, producer and record executive and moved to Nashville in 1970 after helping Columbia Records launch their subsidiary, Epic.

He began as the head of the independent label Dot Records in Nashville, and following a series of mergers took over as president of Capitol Records' Nashville division from 1984-89 where he helped launch the career of Brooks, country music's best-selling artist.

"Today, the music industry lost its greatest diplomat for kindness, tolerance, faith, and sincerity," Brooks said in a statement. "But do not weep for Jim, I have never met a man with a stronger faith, anyone who knew Jim knows where he is now. Instead, weep for those of us who are left here without him ... truly, a great, great man."

Brooks wasn't the only musician whose career was touched by Foglesong, who oversaw label rosters that also included George Strait, Reba McEntire, Barbara Mandrell, Don Williams, Roy Clark, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard and Conway Twitty. All joined him in the Country Music Hall of Fame, into which he was inducted in 2004. After retiring from the business he taught at Trevecca Nazarene University and Vanderbilt, where one of his students was the future country star Dierks Bentley.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in