APA Co-Founder Robert Lasky Dies At 91

Robert Lasky
Courtesy APA – Robert Lasky

APA co-founder Robert L. Lasky, whose clients included Liberace, Johnny Cash and Harry Belafonte, has died aged 91, the agency announced today (Sept. 25).

Lasky played an integral role in the founding of APA in New York in 1962 alongside fellow co-founders David Baumgarten, Roger Vorce and Harvey Litwin. In the ensuing decades, the agency launched offices in Los Angeles, Nashville, Atlanta, Toronto and London.
Today, the leading talent agency represents a diversified roster of clients across music, film and television that includes Mary J. Blige, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Brain Wilson, Fantastic Negrito, Kathleen Edwards, Nickelback, Travis Tritt, Smokey Robinson and Marshall Tucker Band  to name just a few. 
Lasky was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and attended Harvard University before earning his LL.B. from Yale School of Law in 1955. Lasky began his legal career at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind & Garrison before opening his own practice at age 32.
Lasky continued practicing law into his late 80s, collaborating with longtime clients who remained loyal to him for his integrity, ethics and intellect. One of his most recent dealings was helping to facilitate the acquisition of the Les Paul music archives by the Library of Congress.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Astrid, and their two children, Alexander and Clarissa.  A memorial will be held in the Spring 2021, pending COVID-19.