Remembering Music Executive And Recording Academy Trustee Eddie Lambert

Music industry executive and friend of the Recording Academy, Eddie Lambert died of cancer at the age of 76 in West Hills, Calif. on March 4. Born in Brooklyn in the early 1940s, Lambert joined the industry at 22 as a music publisher and worked with music legends such as Dick Asher, Don Costa and Lenny Stogel. He also mentored his sibling Dennis Lambert, who referred to his departed brother as "my mentor, my big bro, my biggest fan and my best friend."

By 1974 the two brothers were ready to go out on their own and founded Haven Records, signing the reunited Righteous Brothers, who enjoyed a major comeback with their No. 3 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, "Rock And Roll Heaven."

The later 1970s found Eddie Lambert working with Hall & Oates' catalog at Interworld Music Group and then as VP Creative at 20th Century Fox Music where he supervised movie soundtracks and signed songwriters such as Bruce Hornsby and James Ingram. During 1979–1981, Lambert served as president of the Recording Academy Los Angeles Chapter, a role he later served in again in 1999–2001.

In 1982, Eddie Lambert became Director of A&R at Motown Records for four years, where he continued to supervise soundtrack compilations and to work as an executive producer of albums, including many produced by his brother Dennis. He went on to work in talent and casting for the television phenomenon "Star Search."

Then for 11 years, from 1989 to 2000, Eddie Lambert worked as vice president of film and television at EMI-Capitol Special Markets where he built on his previous movie soundtrack experience by synch placing EMI recordings in hundreds of media projects.

In 2002, Eddie Lambert founded the Rilex Entertainment consultancy, where he helped clients manage licensing for recordings and composed works until his cancer diagnosis forced Lambert to retire in 2017.

In addition to his Chapter work for the Academy, Lambert twice served in the role of national Vice Chairman as well as being a national trustee and serving on the Academy's television committee. His expertise, encouragement and willingness to pitch in and help will all be profoundly missed by the music community in which he played so many active and responsible roles.

"Eddie was a dear and wonderful man and friend," said Recording Academy President/CEO Neil Portnow. "In the music industry, he achieved the status of 'one name' recognition: if you heard, 'it's Eddie on the phone,' it probably meant that it was THE Eddie Lambert! In fact, he was the person who suggested I get involved with the Recording Academy when I was transferred by RCA Records to LA in 1979. He thought that I might find the people and the missions of value. So, I took his advice, and his introductions, and ultimately ran for a seat as a Governor of the LA Chapter, and somehow won a place at that table. Well, as they say, the rest is history. And I can say without hesitation, that without Eddie's wise, kind, caring, and insightful counsel, my life and career might have had a very different direction and not turned out quite as wonderfully and special as it has for me. THAT's the power and impact of a true friend, and that's exactly what Eddie was to me and to countless others in the music community, and we send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends."

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Remembering Music Executive And Recording Academy Trustee Eddie Lambert

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