Peter Grosslight, WME Music Agent and Board Member, Dead at 68

His clients included Whitney Houston, The Eagles, Journey, Tom Petty and Carly Simon

Peter Grosslight, a WME board member who most recently served as global head of music, died Thursday at age 68.

“Peter was a true gentleman, whose generosity and unique sense of humor will be deeply missed. He was a pioneer in our industry and represented some of the greatest performers of our time. In addition to being a tremendous agent, he served as a valuable mentor to many of us. It was a privilege to work with him,” WME’s Ari Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell said in a joint statement.

Grosslight was a legendary music agent who worked at the agency for more than 20 years. He founded Regency Artists in 1974, which later became Triad Artists, and joined the William Morris Agency when Triad was acquired in 1992. In 2007, he expanded the agency’s music operations to London, playing an integral role in strengthening WMA’s international presence.

Specializing in contemporary music and international booking, Grosslight represented some of the greatest performers of our time. His clients included Joan Baez, Charlotte Church, the Eagles, Whitney Houston, Journey, Luis Miguel, Tom Petty, Brian Setzer, and Carly Simon.

During his tenure at Triad, Grosslight was involved in putting together contemporary music programs for television.  He was behind numerous broadcast network specials, including those starring Tina Turner, Roy Orbison, Steve Winwood, and Bruce Willis.  He also oversaw the American rights for such overseas specials as the Prince’s Trust Concerts and the Mandela birthday show. Grosslight was also involved in the agency’s business ventures, leading the investment in Lollapalooza and helping to expand the festival into other countries.

After being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Grosslight organized A Night At The Forum, a charity event that raised nearly $13 million benefiting The Lustgarten Foundation. The event was held in January and featured performances by the Eagles, Joan Baez, JD & The Straight Shot, and comments from Nobel Prize Winner Dr. James Watson. In lieu of flowers, his family has asked that those interested in contributing make a donation in his memory to The Lustgarten Foundation.

Grosslight was also an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed golfing, fishing and shooting. A true California native, he was born and raised in Los Angeles, attended UC Berkeley, earned a law degree from UCLA and resided in Bel Air until his death. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, and their two children, Samantha and Charlie.

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