Features
Veteran Agent Steve Dahl Dies
– Steve Dahl
A Nashville staple for decades and Paradigm’s longtime head of Fairs & Festivals, Steve Dahl, died Nov. 19 at the age of 71.
Before his days as an executive, Dahl was a musician and singer in The Red Dogs, which recorded for ATCO/Atlantic Records in the 1960s and was inducted into various musical Hall of Fames in four states.
He opened the Monterey Peninsula Artists Nashville office in 1986 and went on to be Vice President and a Director-At-Large for the Academy of Country Music.
The Nashville office started out as a fairly autonomous operation of Dahl and Bobby Cudd.
When Paradigm bought Dan Weiner’s and Fred Bohlander’s MPA in 2004, it suddenly made the entertainment giant, previously focused on film and TV, a major player in the live music business, going on to win Pollstar’s Agency of the Year Award nine times in 15 years.
Pollstar received the following statement from Paradigm:
“We’re deeply saddened to learn of Paradigm agent Steve Dahl’s passing last night at the age of 71. Steve was the longtime head of Paradigm’s Fairs & Festivals department, having opened the Monterey Peninsula Artists Nashville office 31 years ago in 1986. He was an extraordinary presence at this agency and in the Nashville music community, and will be deeply missed.”
“Steve was a two-time Pollstar Awards nominee for Third Coast Agent of the Year. He served stints as Vice President and Director-At-Large for the Academy of Country Music, and also served on the boards of the International Association of Fairs & Expositions, the International Entertainment Buyers Association, and the Country Music Association.”
“Before he was an agent, Steve was the singer, frontman and trumpet player for The Red Dogs, a rhythm & blues band that toured widely and recorded for ATCO/Atlantic Records in the 1960s. The Red Dogs have been inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame, the Nebraska Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Iowa Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and the South Dakota Rock & Roll Music Association Hall of Fame.”
“Steve’s family are in our thoughts today as we remember him. Details about memorial arrangements and donations will be forthcoming from Steve’s family.”