Antonio M. Reid
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Antonio "L.A." Reid (born June 7, 1956 in Cincinnati, Ohio). He is a three-time Grammy Award-winning American record executive, songwriter, and record producer, best known as the co-founder of LaFace Records. He is responsible for signing and helping bring Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, TLC, Kanye West, Rihanna, OutKast, Young Jeezy, Usher, Ciara, Dido, Fall Out Boy, The Killers, Avril Lavigne, and Pink to multi-platinum album sales.¹

Biography

Reid is the son of Brenda Reid and Herb Mooney, who enjoyed success in the early 1960's as part of The Exciters and scored a massive hit with the classic 1962 single " Tell Him".

His first drum lessons were with his uncle, Albert Baldwin. At Hughes Center High School (Cincinnati, Ohio), Reid was a star drummer who cut his teeth playing with bands in “Merry-Go-Round,” an annual talent show held in the school auditorium. He also played in the marching band. Reid's former music teacher Terry Brown taught him how to be a professional.

Career

Reid and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, both members of the 1980s R&B band The Deele, founded LaFace in 1989, and issued their product through Arista Records. In 2000, LaFace was merged into Arista Records with Reid being promoted to president and CEO of Arista Records. He took a six week executive course at Harvard Business School ² in order to become CEO of Arista in 2000 when Clive Davis was passed over. Reid signed his first unknown artist to Arista, pop/rocker Avril Lavigne. Following his stint at Arista, he was appointed as Chairman of The Island Def Jam Music Group in 2004. He is also currently Chairman/CEO of Hitco Music Publishing.

Personal

Reid was married to singer and TLC manager Perri "Pebbles" Reid from 1989 to 1996. They have a son, Aaron (born 1989),^{citation needed} who appeared on an episode of My Super Sweet 16. Reid married former schoolteacher Erica Holton in a lavish three-day ceremony in Capri, Italy in July 2000.³ A daughter, Ariana Manuelle, was born in April 2001,⁴ and a son, Addison Kennedy, was born in August 2003.⁵ Also L.A. has another son named Chase, born November 29, 1999.^{citation needed}

External links

• Antonio "L.A." Reid - Making of a Industry Mogul

References

1. ^ "The Power Office", GQ, November 2008
2. ^ http://articles.latimes.com/2000/may/03/business/fi-25917 BMG Chief Strauss Zelnick Sens Reid back to school
3. ^ L.A. Comes to New York
4. ^ http://www.classicwhitney.com/newsfile/reports/arista/la_nymag22012001.htm
5. ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_6_104/ai_106389013 Reid & wife have son