Fred Lawrence Dies

Longtime music and television agent Fred Lawrence, 68, died at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Burbank, Calif., after a long illness Aug. 7.

Lawrence, who passed away on his birthday, began his career as a saxophone player in the Navy and, after owning a music store in Miami Beach, began managing Miami band Peach.

He became an agent at Miami-based Headline Artists, then was hired to open the Florida booking office of GAC.

He joined Creative Management Agency in the late ’70s and eventually became West Coast VP of APA’s personal appearance department.

He opened Fred Lawrence Associates in 1984, repping Anne Murray, The Manhattan Transfer, Alan Thicke, Paul Revere & The Raiders, Toni Basil, Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, The Everly Brothers, David Foster, Todd Thicke and Jean Luc Ponty.

ICM bought his agency in 1990 and Lawrence became head of its adult contemporary music division.

He held the position until 1998 when illness slowed his career.

He continued to book longtime clients for close to a decade.