H. LeBaron Taylor, 65, Noted Black Corporate Leader, Dies In New York

Jet, August 7, 2000

LeBaron Taylor, who served in a dual capacity as senior vice president of corporate affairs for Sony Music Entertainment and vice president of corporate affairs for Sony Software Corporation, recently died in New York City from cardiac arrest. He was 65.

Taylor's responsibilities at Sony Music Entertainment included specific governmental and public affairs matters, corporate responsibility including equal opportunity employment and minority development and corporate philanthropy.

EBONY Magazine recognized Taylor as one of the top 50 Black American executives in corporate America, and most recently as one of the top Blacks in the entertainment industry.

Black Enterprise magazine in December 1991 noted that Taylor "defined Black music in the early 1970s."

Under his leadership, CBS Records' Black Music Marketing department became the model for the entire record industry.

Taylor joined the company in 1974 as vice president, special markets, for CBS Records. Three years later he became the company's first vice president of Black Music Marketing, with the added responsibility of Jazz/Progressive Music Marketing. In this role he was instrumental in bringing the label's Black Music presence to a leadership position in the industry.

Born in Detroit, Taylor graduated from Wayne State University. He was also a board member of the Grand Boule Foundation of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and chaired its Social Action Committee.

Throughout his career, he received numerous awards, including two Congressional Black Caucus Chair Awards, the NAACP Image Corporate Award, the Highest Public Service Honors from the National Urban League, and had recently served as chairman and CEO of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

The accomplishment of which Taylor was most proud was his recognition by the Black Employees Organization of CBS, Inc. for mentoring and fostering the growth and development of minorities within the company.

Taylor was previously married to the late Yvonne Taylor (nee Ridley), who passed away in January of 1997. In 1999, he married Kay Lovelace, Ed.D, and the two would have celebrated their first anniversary July 24.

He is survived by his wife and four children: Eric and Tiffani from his first marriage, and his stepchildren, Laura and Jason, from his second marriage.

Services were held at the Bright Hope Baptist Church in Philadelphia. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, 225 Broadway, Suite 305, New York, NY, 10007.