ELLIOT GOLDMAN, 1935-2023

Elliot Goldman, whose career in the music biz spanned four decades and included stints at multiple labels as well as a lengthy tenure as a consultant, died on 8/30. He was 88.

In the biz, he served as President and CEO of BMG Music, SVP at Warner Communications, Administrative Vice President of CBS Records and EVP/GM of Arista at its inception. After his major label positions, Mr. Goldman was an operating consultant to many of the largest independent and several major record companies throughout the 90s.

“Elliot Goldman played a substantial role in the history of Arista Records and strongly contributed to its success," reads a quote from label founder Clive Davis. "He was also a great family man and Jill, Ben and the Goldman children have my deepest sympathy for this irreplaceable loss.”

Prior to his career in the music industry, Goldman attended Cornell and received a Columbia University law degree, and held various roles in government including being head of the New York office for the 1964 election campaign of Senator Robert F. Kennedy.

Goldman alao served on the Board of Directors of the RIAA, Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation at its inception. He was also a former member and on the Executive Council of the T.J. Martell Foundation, former Co-Chairman of the Home Entertainment Division of UJA/Federation, founding member, and President Emeritus of the Music for Youth Foundation and recipient of the AMC Cancer Research Center’s Humanitarian of the Year Award.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Jill, his son Ben (Allysa Lawson Goldman), daughters Elizabeth and Cathy and his four grandchildren.

The Goldman family has deep roots in the music business. Elliot’s son, Ben Goldman, is an A&R executive at ONErpm and also spent 20 years at Sony Music as SVP of A&R at Epic and Columbia. Elliot’s grandson, Justin Goldman, was recognized as the youngest music executive in Forbes 30 under 30 in 2021 and has a venture with 10k Projects.

Funeral services for Elliot Goldman were held on 9/1 at Kehillat Israel Synagogue, 16019 Sunset Blvd, Pacific Palisades CA.

In lieu of flowers, the family has kindly requested donations be made in his name to St. Jude’s Children's Research Hospital.