Former Salsoul exec Glenn LaRusso dies at age 69

Noted UK disc jockey Ian Dewhirst posted the following:

Reid Whitelaw, informs us of the passing of his long time friend and music business executive, Glenn LaRusso, this past Monday, September 22nd after a long protracted illness. He was 69 years old.

Glenn had previously for nearly thirty years been Vice President of the “legendary” record label, Salsoul Records, up to the very time of the company’s sale to the Verse Music Group in 2012.

During Glenn’s reign at Salsoul, oversaw the emergence and worldwide success of such recording artists as The Salsoul Orchestra, First Choice, Instant Funk, Double Exposure, Loleatta Holloway, Love Committee, Carol Williams, Eddie Holman , Joe Bataan, Moment Of Truth, and many, many others.

Glenn’s style was unique, always impecably very well dressed, in sharp contrast to an era of a much more casual appearance. He was a bit of a “throwback” to a bygone era, at the same time of keeping very up-to-date with the current music scene.

Glenn was a huge fan of Midem, attended it regularly. He celebrated the music business being conducted in this more of a formal setting and 
more personal way, and he revelled in it, and again, clinging to the music business the way many of us knew and grew up in.

RIP Glenn.

A very nice tribute to Glenn LaRusso

Glenn’s formal obituary reads as follows:

EAST RUTHERFORD – Glenn F. LaRusso, 69, a lifelong resident of East Rutherford, passed away on Sept. 22, 2014. 

Mr. LaRusso was president of Salsoul Records in New York City, and after 20 years of employment he retired in 2010. 

Mr. LaRusso was loving brother of Barbara A. Doris and her husband Edward, cherished uncle of Gail Kaiser and her husband Todd, and devoted son of the late Michael and Clara (nee Pennino) LaRusso. He is also survived by many cousins.

Family and friends will be received Wednesday, Sept. 24, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m., at the Kimak Funeral Home, 425 Broad St., Carlstadt. The funeral will depart from the Kimak Funeral Home on Thursday, Sept. 25, at 10 a.m. (visitors can arrive at 9:30 a.m. at funeral home) for a funeral Mass at St. Joseph’s R.C. Church, East Rutherford, at 10:30 a.m. Cremation will be private. – See more at: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/northjersey/obituary.aspx?n=Glenn-LaRusso&pid=172551160#sthash.Z9hdWwe7.dpuf

Many thanks to Gary Van den Bussche of Disco, Soul, Gold for letting us know

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