Sherman Sneed, 80, Noted Manager And Broadway Producer, Dies In Brooklyn

Sherman Brooks Sneed, singer, personal manager and Broadway producer who conceived and produced Lena Horne's historic Broadway musical The Lady And Her Music, recently died of a heart attack in Brooklyn, NY. He was 80.

Born and raised in Oklahoma City, he later moved to Brooklyn, where he lived for many years.

In 1972, he became production manager for Lena Home and subsequently, her personal manager. It was his idea and concept for Horne's Tony Award-winning one-woman Broadway show, The Lady And Her Music, which had an unprecedented 14-month run on Broadway, followed by a sold-out international tour, which he co-produced. He also was executive producer of the acclaimed albums Lena Horne at Carnegie Hall in 1994, and Lena Horne at the Supper Club, also released in 1994.

In 1957, Sneed began a 15-year association with Harry Belafonte, first as a member of the Belafonte Folk Singers and later as an assistant manager and public relations liaison for Belafonte.

Prior to his work with Belafonte and Home, Sneed, also a talented singer, appeared in a production of Porgy and Bess with William Warfield and Leontyne Price, Broadway's Jamaica and made several TV appearances on such shows as "The Nat King Cole Show," "Sergeant Bilko" and in the movie, Carmen Jones.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Frieda, son, Gregory, daughter, Sherri, and sister, Vertna Jones.