Bob Garcia, A&M Records Exec, Dies at 81 of Natural Causes

Bob Garcia, veteran exec for A&M Records, died of natural causes at his Tujunga, California home on April 26, a week before his 82nd birthday on May 3.

The former A&M Records director of artist relations and the Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences' West Coast president is best known for his almost three decades with the American record label. After serving in the United States Army in the 1960s, Bob Garcia moved to Los Angeles and earned a Masters in Communication from Columbia University. He later worked as a writer in the fashion industry before writing and editing for the L.A. underground newspaper "Open City." Variety's obituary for Garcia said that around the same time, he wrote criticism on the rock music scene and reviewed artists such as Pink Floyd and Tim Buckley.

Garcia joined A&M Records in 1968, starting as a biography writer and penning articles on gritty, multi-genre artist Joe Cocker, rock band Procol Harum, and singer-songwriter Cat Stevens. He was credited as a pioneer as the American record label started building its roster of rock musicians.

"Uncle Bob" was soon promoted to director of artist relations, a position he kept for the rest of his stay with A&M Records. Under his direction, A&M gained a reputation for being artist-friendly mainly because of his ability to "translate artists' needs." He then formed lasting friendships with a lot of the artists he worked with, including The Police, Joe Cocker, Squeeze, Amy Grant, and more.

After his tenure with A&M, Bob Garcia founded his own music consultancy company, "Shedding Dog LLC," serving as an advisor, mentor, and consultant to bands and musicians like Lady Gaga and Blake Shelton.

Billboard gathered statements from people who had the opportunity to work with Garcia. A&M co-founder and musician Herb Alpert reminisced working with Bob Garcia, saying that "without exception, [Garcia] was liked by all." Alpert added that both artists and employees "admired his quirkiness and original personality that didn't change with the times."

The Police frontman Sting used to fondly call Garcia "Uncle Bob," remembering how they would always drop by his office whenever they visit the A&M Records office. He recognized Garcia as their "concierge, our mentor, our protector, our confidante."

"He was, and, to me still is, the presiding spirit of that magical lot on La Brea. He will always be there for me, as he was in life. God bless you, Uncle Bob, and thank you," Sting told Billboard.

In the January 1987 book "A&M Records: The First 25 Years," editors Jeff Gold and David Leaf described Bob Garcia as the record label's "hippie in residence," often seen with his dog, a Pyrenees.

The book also detailed his tours with Sting's band, The Police, noting that Garcia drove the station wagon and the band playing a lot of bowling alleys.

Billboard also requested that fans can send donations to MusiCares under Bob Garcia's name instead of flowers. The article also called for assistance regarding Uncle Bob's latest Pyrenees rescued dog, Perseus, currently in the care of the Great Pyrenees Association of Southern California.