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Andre HarrellAmerican record producer and founder of the now defunct record label Uptown Records
Date of Birth: 26.09.1960
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Andre Harrell: Music Mogul and Entrepreneur
- Joining Rush Communications
- Establishing Uptown Records
- Partnership with MCA Music Entertainment Group
- Personal Life and Later Career
Andre Harrell: Music Mogul and Entrepreneur
Early Life and CareerAndre Harrell was born on September 26, 1960, in the Bronx, New York. As a teenager, he formed the rap/hip-hop duo "Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde" with his best friend, Alonzo Brown. Despite their early success, Harrell pursued higher education at Lehman College in the Bronx, studying Management and Communications Studies.
Joining Rush Communications
In 1983, Harrell met Russell Simmons, the founder of Rush Communications. He joined the company and rose through the ranks to become Vice President and General Manager within two years. After several years at Rush, Harrell left to establish his own label, Uptown Records.
Establishing Uptown Records
Under the Uptown Records label, Harrell discovered and signed Sean Combs, the future P. Diddy. In 1988, Mary J. Blige recorded her own cover of Anita Baker's "Caught Up In the Rapture" in a local supermarket recording booth. The tape was discovered by Uptown Records A&R Jeff Redd, who brought it to Harrell's attention. Harrell met with Blige, and in 1989, she signed to the label, becoming its youngest and first female artist.
Partnership with MCA Music Entertainment Group
In 1988, Harrell proposed an alliance with MCA Music Entertainment Group. After several successful releases, MCA agreed to a major deal with Harrell in 1992, which included film and television projects. Uptown Records was renamed Uptown Entertainment, and its recordings began appearing in Universal Pictures and Universal Television productions.
Personal Life and Later Career
In 1994, Harrell and his wife, New York attorney Wendy Credle, welcomed a son named Gianni Versace Harrell. Gianni currently attends the prestigious Horace Mann School in New Jersey. In 1995, Harrell became the CEO of Motown Records.
