Andre Harrell

Andre O'Neal Harrell (September 26, 1960 – May 7, 2020) was an American record executive, media proprietor, and rapper. He formed the short-lived East Coast hip hop duo Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde with Alonzo Brown in 1980; they signed with Profile Records in 1981. After disbanding in 1986, Harrell founded the record label Uptown Records, which saw commercial success in contemporary R&B, new jack swing, and hip hop music releases into the next decade. The label entered a distribution deal with MCA Records and signed artists including Jodeci, Heavy D & the Boyz, Mary J. Blige, Guy, Al B. Sure, the Notorious B.I.G., and Sean Combs. Harrell is credited with discovering Combs and giving him his start in the industry. Harrell was appointed CEO of Motown from 1995 to 1997. After years of sustained medical issues, Harrell died of heart failure in May 2020.