Veteran Tour Producer Bonafede Dies February 16

Veteran Tour Producer Bonafede Dies
February 16, 2007 - Touring

by Ray Waddell, Nashville

Music industry veteran Sal Bonafede passed away late Wednesday (Feb. 14) night at his home in Los Angeles. He is survived by his wife, Suzanne, sons Jeff and Chris, and his four grandchildren.

With a career spanning more than 30 years, Bonafede worked with such legendary acts as the Doors, Michael Jackson and Neil Diamond. He produced Diamond's tours for more than 20 years, the last several in partnership with Jeff Apregan, who calls Bonafede a "friend and mentor."

AEG Live CEO Randy Phillips worked with Bonafede on Diamond's North American tours. "Sal was both excruciatingly relentless if he wanted something, and wonderful if you needed a friend," Phillips tells Billboard.biz. "Having survived three Neil Diamond tours, countless lunches and dinners, and a thousand hours of phone calls, his passing has left a giant, like the man himself, hole in my life. The industry has lost a brilliant and passionate executive."

Last year in a Billboard special on Diamond, Bonafede spoke of working with the artist. "We've all been doing this together for a long time," Bonafede said. "We have a great working relationship and we know what it takes to get the job done."

For Bonafede, working on Diamond's tours was rewarding personally and professionally. "How many artists have had they type of career Neil has had?" Bonafede asked rhetorically. "I'm very proud to have headed up his team all these years."

Services will be held Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul's The Apostle Church located at 10750 Ohio Avenue, Los Angeles, 90024. Memorial donations can be made in his name to the Lange Foundation, www.langefoundation.com.