David Geffen, Elliot Roberts, & Neil Young

Frame from 'Inventing David Geffen': American Masters

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Elliot Roberts, Manager for Neil Young, Joni Mitchell & More, Dies at 76 | Billboard https://t.co/RrATfcg6g3 — Level Best Mgmt. (@LvlBest) June 22, 2019

"There have been other infamous artist/manager teams in rock and roll – Dylan and Albert Grossman. Ray Charles and Joe Adams, Bruce Springsteen and Jon Landau – and, of course, Elvis and Colonel Tom Parker. Elliot Roberts definitely resides in that hall of infamy – and is the only human capable of guiding Neil Young's career."

"Neil likes quirky people around him," said Elliot Roberts, Young's manager since the late sixties. "I think having quirky people around him lessens-in his mind-his own quirkiness. 'Yes, I am standing on my head, but look at these two other guys nude standing on their head.' " His mane of gray hair flying, Roberts was on his ninety-sixth phone call of the day, either chewing out some record-company underling or closing a million-dollar deal. Not far away, a bearded, sunglassed David Briggs- Young's producer-prowled the stage, palming a cigarette J.D.-style and looking like the devil himself.

Briggs and Roberts were the twin engines that powered the Neil Young hot rod. Feared, at times hated, both men possessed killer instincts and had been with Neil almost from the beginning. Roberts was a genius at pushing Young's career, Briggs at pushing his art. It's an understatement to say the two didn't always see eye to eye. Roberts and Briggs were two of the quirkiest characters around- difficult, complicated men-but then so was just about everybody and everything in Young's world.

"Let's look at Neil's whole trip-the ranch, the people he plays with," said computer wizard Bryan Bell, who worked extensively with Young in the late eighties. " 'Easy' isn't in the vocabulary."

Marc Benioff, MC Hammer, Neil Young and Elliot Roberts

Dreamforce 2011

Elliot Roberts, Neil Young's manager, was characterized in the biography "Shakey" by Jimmy McDonough this way:

"There have been other infamous artist/manager teams in rock and roll – Dylan and Albert Grossman. Ray Charles and Joe Adams, Bruce Springsteen and Jon Landau – and, of course, Elvis and Colonel Tom Parker. Elliot Roberts definitely resides in that hall of infamy – and is the only human capable of guiding Neil Young's career."



Joni Mitchell w/ Elliot Roberts

Carnegie Hall, 1969 - Photo by Joel Bernstein Carnegie Hall, 1969 - Photo by Joel Bernstein

Neil Young, Jonathan Demme & Elliot Roberts

Neil Young Journeys Film Premiere - Toronto Film Festival

Goodbye, Elliot Roberts, trail-blazing artist manager, most famously for Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, and CSNY. Nash: "Of all of the people around us in those early days, Elliot was the one who kept us together." Photo of Roberts with CSN, circa 1970, by Henry Diltz. pic.twitter.com/Vy5mKGVzsJ — David Zimmer (@DaveZimmer1969) June 22, 2019



Elliot Roberts with Stephen Stills

CSNY - Music Scene TV - 1969

Photo by Jeff Allen Photo by Jeff Allen

Elliot Roberts, Neil Young’s Manager for 52 Years, Dies at 76 https://t.co/bcDh2ca9wI @UltClassicRock — Bernadette Barter (@barterb) June 22, 2019

Big news for CSNY fans: Neil Young’s combative manager, Eliot Roberts, has died. https://t.co/KCb4SSo5bM — Steve Silberman (@stevesilberman) June 22, 2019

Neil Young's longtime manager Elliot Roberts, a pivotal figure in the Laurel Canyon music scene, has died at the age of 76 https://t.co/mnyqFOg0IF pic.twitter.com/AOnGurZtVC — Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) June 22, 2019

My thoughts and prayers go to Neil Young for the loss of his friend and manager of 50 years, Elliott Roberts. They were an amazing combination and created an impressive legacy of music that rocked the world. pic.twitter.com/fwh2iP9gu4 — Randy Bachman (@RandysVinylTap) June 22, 2019

"Elliot Roberts lived at Ground Zero in the Land of Rock & Roll.....his expert guidance got all of us Artist through the myriad of mine fields that could end a successful career.

In his presence we were the needy, and he was our crutch that we leaned on any time of night or day to keep us moving towards our enthusiastic goals the times demanded. He was our Oracle and we went to him for answers that we could trust and fortify ourselves with.

Elliot always fought and protected those Artist who were lucky enough to have a place in his Heart and his

Loyalties.

Rest in Eternal Peace dear Friend."

Elliot Roberts, Neil Young's -- and many other artists -- manager has passed away.Today (Friday June 21), Harvey Goldsmith announced on Facebook that Elliot Roberts, the music manager and label exec who played a key role in the careers of artists like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell, has died.Roberts formed Lookout Management with David Geffen and founded Geffen’s Asylum Records in 1970.Here is a very rare interview with Elliot Roberts from 2018.Elliot Roberts has been Neil Young's Manager for over 40 years now, as well as many, many other artists such as Joni Mitchell.From New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation Sync Up interview by Warren Zanes on Feb. 28, 2018, a quite revealing discussion on music and "The Business". Note, that there are audio issue with Elliot's microphone, unfortunately.Elliot Roberts, Neil Young's manager, was characterized in the biography "Shakey" by Jimmy McDonough this way:Also, see interview with Elliot Roberts and Larry Johnson & Elliot Roberts Interview on Greendale Also, see Elliot Roberts - Neil Young's Manager An interview with Elliott Roberts by Paul Makos from the Neil Young Appreciation Society publication 'Broken Arrow' , May 25, 1982.too late, too soon, he sleeps with angels...rust in peace Mr. Elliot.Friend James Mazzeo:

Labels: elliot roberts, neil young