Paradise Artists Co-Founder Bill Monot Dies

Rick Diamond / Getty Images for IEBA – Bill Monot
Bill Monot and Taylor Dayne at the Paradise Artists Party during day 3 of the IEBA 2016 Conference Oct. 11, 2016 in Nashville.

William “Bill” Monot, 62, died Aug. 10 in Ojai, Calif., the city that is home to booking agency Paradise Artists which he started with Howard Silverman in 1989.

“He was a great agent, one of the best I ever saw, and a great friend for over 30 years. I’ll miss him,” Silverman told Pollstar. 

At Paradise Monot represented John Kay & Steppenwolf, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, WAR, Blood Sweat & Tears, and Taylor Dayne, among others.  Monot began his career at the Al Schultz Agency in Waukegan, Ill., in the early ’80s, after which he joined the Willard Alexander Agency where he became head of its Chicago office in 1984. He moved to Ojai, Calif., in 1988 where he started E.T.A. (Entertainment Talent Agency), the precursor to Paradise Artists, where he spent the rest of his career.  Paradise also has offices in New York City and Wisconsin. 

Earlier in his career he represented artists including Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich and The Count Basie Orchestra.  

Monot is survived by his daughter Megan Anderson, son-in-law Jason Anderson, grandson Tristan Anderson, mother Helen and brother Gerald and family.  

The family requests privacy and that donations be made to VH1’s Children’s Music Education Program at vh1savethemusic.org.