Dick Asher, a music industry legend, passed away at the age of 92. His son, Jeffrey, shared the news on Facebook, mentioning that his father died peacefully at his home in Boca Raton, Florida. Asher had a long and successful career in the music industry, working with iconic artists like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Michael Jackson.
Born in New York City in 1932, Asher began his career after graduating from Tufts University and Cornell Law School. He joined CBS Records in the 1960s and later worked at Capitol Records before returning to Columbia Records in 1971. Asher played a significant role in stabilizing Columbia’s finances during his time with the company.
In the 1980s, Asher took a stand against payola in the music industry by releasing Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall, Part II” without the involvement of independent promoters. This move ultimately led to Congressional hearings that exposed and dismantled the group’s operations.
After leaving Columbia, Asher joined Warner Communications and later became the president of PolyGram Records. He oversaw the release of several successful albums during his time at PolyGram before returning to law practice and providing consultancy services to artists and companies.
In addition to his work in the music industry, Asher was an original director for Electronic Arts for over two decades. He later became an affiliate professor of commercial music at Florida Atlantic University.
Asher is survived by his wife, Sheila, his son Jeffrey, four grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter. His legacy in the music industry and his contributions to the fight against payola will always be remembered.
