James Leachvice president of West Coast creative services and operations for SESAC, died Thursday (October 17) in Los Angeles. The respected music industry executive died after a battle with cancer.
Beginning his tenure at SESAC in 2001 as director of writer/publisher relations, Leach covered pop, R&B and rock. During his 23 years with the performing rights organization, Leach signed funk legends George Clinton, Lalah Hathaway and Ab-Soul as well as songwriter/producers such as Nate “Danja” Hills, Harvey Mason Jr. (The Underdogs) and John “Jelien.” Wesley. He also established the firm's Los Angeles office.
Paying tribute to Leach, SESAC commented in part on its website: “By his warmth, kindness and enthusiasm for life, James will continue to shine a light on those he knew… James was not just a leader for creative services based in Los Angeles group but a constant source of support and inspiration for songwriters and publishers associated with SESAC. In addition to his deep love of music and unwavering dedication to nurturing talent was his advocacy of culture and DEI. He constantly promoted awareness and understanding. His ethos of service and making things better was the cornerstone of his work.”
Originally from Montclair, NJ, before moving as a teenager with his family to LA, Leach graduated from Pepperdine University with a degree in broadcast management. His lifelong love of music and the arts laid the foundation for a multifaceted career that included stints in television and radio sales, as a recording studio owner, and as head of his own music placement company, Leach Entertainment. Internships at Michael Jackson's Famous Music and ATV Music (prior to its merger with Sony) led to his appointment as director of creative affairs at ATV. During his seven years there, Leach signed writer/producers such as Keith Crouch and Derek Allen and also worked with the catalogs of Jackson, The Beatles and Sly & the Family Stone.
Returning to Famous Music as director of creative affairs/urban music, Leach signed then-unknown songwriter/artist Akon. After leaving Famous, Leach worked as a music supervisor and consultant. His credits in this arena include the popular 90s series New York Secret and Magic Johnson's The Magic Hour.
A 2019 Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players honoree, Leach was honored with the Living Legends Foundation's Entertainment Advocate Award in 2015. He also served on the foundation's advisory board.
Calling Leach “the consummate professional,” the president of the Living Legends Foundation David C. Linton he says Bulletin board“He brought such value to furthering our mission of 'service, scholarship and preservation of the legacy of black music leaders.' His presence will be missed both professionally and personally. Our prayers go out to his family and all who know and love him.”
Leach is survived by his mother, Claudia Leach, in addition to his siblings and other family members. The family requests that donations be made in his honor Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation.
