Nicholas Brown, who worked as business manager for such artists as Michael Jackson, George Michael, Aerosmith, Michael Caine, Morrissey, the Cure, Boy George and Culture Club, Neil Diamond, Stevie Nicks, Jeff Lynne of ELO, Dave Navarro, and many others, died unexpectedly on Sept. 5 in Santa Barbara, Calif. No cause of death was announced; he was 75.
Over the course of his 50 years work as an accountant and business manager, initially in his native London and later in Los Angeles, Brown handled his clients’ touring, accounting, assets, royalties, taxes, music catalogs, matrimonial and real estate business and more.
Aerosmith drummer and co-founder Joey Kramer said, “Nicholas was one of my best friends, and my business manager, for 38 years. He was everything that you could possibly want in a friend and advisor. I miss him dearly.”
In a profile as part of Variety’s “Business Managers Elite” list in 2015 Brown, laughingly recalled babysitting Michael Jackson’s famous chimp, Bubbles, during the singer’s “HIStory” tour, adding that his primary role was of course financial.
“What used to be easy now has become complicated; we have to be constantly vigilant,” he said. “I’m very hands-on with all of my clients, and therefore I need to keep in touch with the trends, the new technologies in particular, and incorporate them into our everyday work.”
Brown was a 2009 graduate of the Masters in Spiritual Psychology program at the University of Santa Monica, where he routinely volunteered. He worked with many charitable organizations, becoming Board Member of the Hands and Hearts of Hope Foundation, and Chairman of EduCare Foundation Board, whose mission is “To inspire and empower young people to become responsible global citizens, courageous and compassionate leaders, and to live their dreams.”
Brown is survived by his wife, Gabriella Taylor, and two sons, Jesse and Jerish.