Jeff Cheen, Music Executive Who Helped Bring Western Music to Asia, Dies at 80

Jeff Cheen, a pioneering music industry figure who played a crucial role in introducing Western pop music to China and worked with legendary artists like John Lennon and Pink Floyd, passed away on October 16 after battling cancer. He was 80 years old.

Cheen’s remarkable career began during his teenage years at Chess Records in Chicago. This iconic label, founded by his uncle Leonard Chess, was instrumental in shaping the sound of blues and early rock and roll, with a roster that included Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. After relocating to Los Angeles, Cheen advanced to the position of National Promotion Director at Tetragrammaton Records. In that role, he managed promotional efforts for an eclectic mix of talent, from John Lennon and Deep Purple to comedians Joan Rivers and Tiny Tim. His career trajectory later included leadership roles at Mercury Records Hollywood, where he oversaw record production and artist signings, and at Capitol Records, where his influence expanded as he managed projects for Pink Floyd, Steve Miller, and George Harrison. He further demonstrated his versatility by guiding the careers of funk band War and Rick James while heading the management division at Far Out Music.

His expertise in live event production was cemented after he organized the first Pacific Rim Festival in Los Angeles. This success captured the attention of China's Ministry of Culture and Australia's Ausmusic, both of which hired him as a consultant. This led to a transformative 13-year period working in China, where his company, InterStar Music, achieved a historic milestone by forming the first joint venture between a Western music company and China for the distribution of pop and rock music throughout Asia. An industry analyst noted, "Cheen's entry into China in the 1990s was a cultural watershed, opening a door that had been firmly shut for decades." This groundbreaking initiative established the essential infrastructure for the cross-cultural musical dialogue that characterizes the modern global industry.

While based in China, Cheen served as a critical conduit for American blues, jazz, and reggae, touring with major acts and helping to foster a burgeoning new music scene. His work inspired local musicians to explore these Western styles, leading him to produce two Chinese reggae albums, a Chinese jazz album, and a Chinese country album. He also collaborated closely with the foundational Chinese rock band Tang Dynasty. Their self-titled 1992 album is widely regarded as China's first heavy metal record, a seminal work that motivated an entire generation of Chinese rock artists. In a parallel effort to share his knowledge, he lectured extensively on the music business across Asia and Australia.

Upon his return to the United States, Cheen continued to exert influence as Vice President of Business Development for B.B. King’s Blues Clubs. His company evolved into the InterStar Arts Alliance, focusing on artist marketing. He eventually settled in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he taught the Business of Music at Catawba College. A dedicated supporter of local arts, he founded the Charlotte Music Awards in 2006 and was a founding board member of the Hollywood Music in Media Awards. He also lent his efforts to the Pacific Coast Group, an organization dedicated to ensuring musical artists receive proper royalty payments for their work distributed in Asia.

Jeff Cheen is survived by his wife, Chunghong; his two sons from a previous marriage, Justin and Garrett; and his two grandchildren, Henry and Eva. The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be directed to Autism Speaks.