My great friend, John Titta, died yesterday after a two year battle with cancer. He was 69.
John was most recently the Chief Creative Officer at ASCAP, the gigantic music licensing company. He had held high positions at Warner Chappell Music Publishing.
Singer songwriter Rob Thomas of matchbox twenty wrote on Instagram: “For the last 30 years, @johntitta had been a champion for my music and my career. It didn’t matter if we were working together or not. He loved music more than anyone. A true friend to so many artists and a true gentleman. The business of music is a little less than it was without you in it. RIP, my man.”
John was a sweetheart in a business of vipers. He was also a great husband and father and a musician as well. He performed over the course of his career on albums by Ringo Starr and Gizelle D’Cole and played with Michael McDonald, the Doobie Brothers, Duane Eddy, Richie Sambora and Omi. He also worked with Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan on the Tony Award winning musical “Memphis,” and contributed as a producer or A&R on albums by Dionne Warwick, Todd Rundgren, Melinda Doolittle, Smash Mouth and Donny & Marie Osmond. He also contributed A&R work to the 1990 compilation “Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin,” which featured covers by Kate Bush, the Who, Sinead O’Connor, Tina Turner, Sting, Eric Clapton and George Michael, among others.
John and I went to many shows together, or we’d inevitably turn up at the same events bonded by our love of music. He was a gem of a human being. This is a terrible loss.
“All of us at ASCAP are heartbroken,” commented ASCAP President & Chairman, songwriter Paul Williams. “John Titta was one of a kind, and truly one of the most beloved music industry executives I have known, with deep ties to songwriters across genres and generations. John – you had a song in your heart always, and you will always be in our hearts. I miss you already.”
So long, John. See you one day on the other side. It will be so much fun!
