Steven Fargnoli

Steven Fargnoli (28 August 1949, Newport, Rhode Island — 14 September 2001, Los Angeles, California) was an American artist manager and video/film producer best known as Prince's manager in the first decade of his career. Fargnoli represented numerous other prominent acts, such as Sinéad O'Connor and Godsmack, and served as a director and manager of his London-based label, Red Dot Records (from 1992 to '96). In February 1992, Fargnoli was nominated for "Best Long Form Music Video" at the 34th Grammy Awards for producing O'Connor's The Year Of The Horse concert film. Fargnoli had worked as a booking agent since the early 1970s before he was hired by the Cavallo-Ruffalo Management, a reputable firm founded by Bob Cavallo, a future Chairman of Disney's Hollywood Records, and Joe Ruffalo, which handled such high-caliber bands as Earth, Wind & Fire, Weather Report, and Little Feat. In early 1979, following the release of Prince's debut album For You, his label Warner Bros. Records signed Cavallo-Ruffalo as a new management team. Steve Fargnoli supervised the contract as a senior employee. In the following decade, Fargnoli contributed to all Prince studio albums between Prince (1979) and Sign "O" The Times (87), managed 1999 Tour, Purple Rain Tour, and Lovesexy Tour, and several music videos, including Sign "O" The Times '88 concert film. Steven also worked on a few Paisley Park releases by Prince's proteges, such as Sheila E.'s In Romance 1600 (1985), self-titled albums by Jill Jones and Taja Sevelle in 1987, and Riot In English (88) by Dale Bozzio. Steven became crucial to the Prince's ascend to international superstardom, subsequently promoted to a name partner in the firm, which rebranded as Cavallo, Ruffalo & Fargnoli in March 1986. Besides managing Prince's musical endeavors, Steve Fargnoli played a significant role in producing his debut Hollywood blockbuster Purple Rain which premiered in July 1984. The follow-up Under The Cherry Moon in 1986 — apparently, produced against Fargnoli's advice — became a box-office flop and earned Steven and his partners Razzie "anti-award" and a nomination for the year's Worst Movie. In January 1989, Prince abruptly fired his management team and appointed Albert Magnoli, Purple Rain writer-director with no prior experience in artist management, as Fargnoli's replacement. Despite the initial press statements on the amicable separation, Steven and Prince soon engaged in a legal battle. In December 1991, Fargnoli sued Prince for allegedly defaming him in the lyrics of "Jughead," one of the tracks on Diamonds And Pearls, and demanded $5 mln in damages. Prince immediately countersued, claiming mismanagement and bad faith advice; they settled out-of-court. In November 1992, Steven Fargnoli filed yet another five-million lawsuit, this time against Prince's new law firm, Ziffren, Brittenham & Branca, which was shortly dismissed by the court. After parting ways with Cavallo-Ruffalo and dissolving CR&F in June 1992, Fargnoli opened a new management firm, Pure Acts Ltd., with offices in London and Los Angeles. He signed and managed several notable artists, including Karl Wallinger's World Party, Sinéad O'Connor, Donna Lewis, and rock/nu-metal band Godsmack (helping to shape their mainstream success alongside his managing partner Arma Andon). In the late 90s, Fargnoli reunited with Bob Cavallo and served as A&R Consultant for Hollywood Records. He passed away at 52 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Notable artists managed by Fargnoli Sly & The Family Stone The Emotions Vanilla Fudge Roachford Ray Parker Jr. The J. Geils Band Deepika Addis Black Widow Wire Train Maria McKee Sheryl Crow David Baerwald Larry John McNally