APA Founder Roger Vorce Dies

Courtesy of APA – Roger Vorce

The Founder of Agency for the Performing Arts, Roger Vorce, died at 88 years old April 30, the agency announced. 

Originally from Massachusetts, Vorce served in the Navy before entering the entertainment industry, starting at MCA under the tutelage of Lew Wasserman, and making agent in 1957.

Vorce left MCA and founded APA with David Baumgarten and Harvey Litwin in 1962, operating out of New York and, over the years, booked the likes of Liberace, Johnny Cash, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, Harry Belafonte, and Tony Bennett, among many others.

He took over as president of the agency in 1993, operating out of Los Angeles, and took the title of CEO in 1997. He remained Chairman Emeritus of APA until his death.

“Nobody loved working with talent more than Roger,” James Gosnell, President/CEO of APA said in a statement.  “Through his devotion to our company, he allows us to stand on his shoulders.  We come to work every day proud to continue his legacy.”

Today APA has offices in LA, New York, Nashville, Atlanta, Toronto and London. The company had a reputation of being old school, but started making moves in 2013 with the recruitment of Andrew Ellis from Paradigm, followed by Steve Martin and Andy Somers from The Agency Group, and then Steve Ferguson from Paradigm in 2016.

Details regarding a celebration of his life will be forthcoming.