has shared a devastating tribute to Seymour Stein following his death at the age of 80.
The music mogul, who helped the Back That Up To The Beat musician launch her pop career, .
Following the sad news, the 64-year-old posted a lengthy message on Instagram alongside throwback photos from their time together, crediting him with ‘shaping her world’.
‘Seymour Stein has left us! I need to catch my breath,’ she began. ‘He was one of the most influential men in my life!! He changed and shaped my world. I must explain.
‘I stalked a DJ named Mark Kamin – for a year at a club called Danceteria! In the early 80’s. He finally agreed to play my demo of a song called Everybody on a Saturday night. The club was packed. An A&R man from SIRE records was there – Michael Rosenblatt.
‘He heard the music and asked me if he could bring me to meet his boss Seymour Stein. I couldn’t get the words “Hell Yes”! out of my mouth fast enough! Unfortunately Seymour was in the hospital for a heart ailment!
‘I didn’t care. Lets goooooo! When I met him he was laying in a hospital bed wearing his boxer shorts and a wife beater! He had a cannula up his nose and a saline drip in his arm! He was grinning like the Cheshire cat.
‘I was carrying my giant boombox ready to play my cassette for him immediately! He smiled and laughed when he saw me and asked me if I was related to the Virgin Mary!! Hahahhahahaa. I knew we would hit it off. I played him the song a few times. He signed me to his record label that day!! [sic].’
‘This moment changed the course of my life forever. And was the beginning of my journey as a musical artist,’ she continued. ‘Not only did Seymour hear me but he saw me and my potential! For this I will be eternally grateful!
‘I am weeping as I write this down. Words cannot describe how I felt at this moment after years of grinding and being broke and getting every door slammed in my face.
‘Anyone who knew Seymour knew about his passion for music and his impeccable taste. He had an ear like no other!
‘He was intense – wickedly funny -a little bit crazy and deeply intuitive [sic].’
She concluded the post: ‘Dearest Seymour you will never be forgotten!! Thank You! Thank you Thank you! Shine on!!!’
Stein carved out a career for himself in the music industry when he was just a teenager, working as an assistant to Tommy Noonan, who then served as the head of charts at Billboard.
He would make his way from school to work every day, and would sometimes stay in a hotel near the office and take the subway to Brooklyn in the morning to make his lessons.
The music executive went on to started Sire Records, and launch the careers of the Ramones, Talking Heads and a number of other artists.
He also co-founded the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation and was inducted into the Rock Hall in 2005.
His daughter, Mandy Stein, confirmed his death in a statement shared with the Hollywood Reporter.
‘I didn’t have the most conventional upbringing, but I wouldn’t change my life and my relationship with my dad for anything, and he was a loving and caring grandfather who took pleasure in every moment with his three granddaughters,’ she said.
‘He gave me the ultimate soundtrack, as well as his wicked sense of humor.
‘I am beyond grateful for every minute our family spent with him, and that the music he brought to the world impacted so many people’s lives in a positive way.’
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