Candace Konowitch Dies; Mentored Agents From Rob Light To Bobby Brooks

Candace Vee Konowitch, who early in her music industry career was an assistant in the concert department at International Creative Management, before moving on to a career at Warner Bros. Records, died Dec.18 after a brief battle with cancer.

Before the term “mentor” was in popular usage, Konowitch helped train and guide future agents including Rob Light, Bobby Brooks and Jeff Kramer from the assistant’s desk at ICM to the top echelons of the industry.

It was also at ICM where Candace would meet her future and husband, Abbey Konowitch, another longtime music industry veteran, who survives her along with their daughter, A.J. Mendez.

“Sometimes, life’s challenges unjustly affect even the most exceptional individuals. Candace was and always will be the most important person in my life,” Abbey Konowitch said. “She was unwaveringly supportive and helped to advance everything that I was able to achieve through our decades together. And – I would be the first to admit – everyone loved Candace best!” 

Light, now CAA Worldwide Head of Music, paid tribute to Konowitch in a social media post, saying, “My first desk as an assistant, working for Terry Rhodes, I got to sit next to Candace … She single-handedly taught Bobby Brooks and I everything about working a desk from answering the phones, to doing contracts, to how to deal with the difficult people who would call. She was honest, kind, funny and tough. She took no shit, and taught us both how to stand up for ourselves. I had never been an assistant, and not sure I would have made it through that stage of my career if I had not been lucky and blessed to have her sitting next to me.”

There will be a memorial service and celebration of Candace Konowitch’s life on Thursday, Jan. 11 at 1 p.m. at the Tanach Chapel at Mount Sinai, Hollywood Hills, in Los Angeles. A webcast will be available HERE.

 Donations in memory of Candace Konowitch can be made to Children’s Hospital of LA and Reader To Reader.