On Friday morning in Los Angeles there will be a private funeral for Abe Somer. The 85 year old lawyer was at the red hot center of the record and music business. For better or worse, all the major deals were made by Abe Somer. He died on Wednesday in Los Angeles after a short illness.

Somer cut the deal with Atlantic Records’ Ahmet Ertegun that gave the Rolling Stones the biggest contract of all time in 1971. Two years prior, it was Somer who flew into the Woodstock music festival so his friend Jerry Moss — of A&M Records, who also died this week — could see Joe Cocker perform and sign him.

Clive Davis told me today that it was Somer who invited him to the Monterey Pop Festival in 1968. Davis famously signed Janis Joplin right after her performance. Davis told me, “I thought we were just going for fun to see Columbia artists like Simon & Garfunkel and Blood Sweat & Tears. The weekend changed my life forever.”

All these people remained close friends for decades. Somer worked for his entire career at the now 100 year old law firm, Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp, where he was head of the music department. Some of the acts he represented included the Beach Boys, the Mamas & the Papas, Neil Diamond, and the Doors. He was also best friends with Jack Nicholson and often represented him.

Somer was a gigantic success but had bumps in his career as well, including charges of sexual harassment in the early 1990s. But he was a beloved and loyal friend to dozens of artists and executives. He cut many deals for his friend, super producer Richard Perry, whose artists included Carly Simon, Ringo Starr, The Pointer Sisters, and Rod Stewart. He was also close friends with Moss, Herb Alpert, and Lou Adler, bringing Adler’s Ode Records to A&M and launching Carole King’s career with “Tapestry.” Earlier, when Adler had hits with the Mamas and the Papas at Dunhill Records, it was Somer who made it all happen.

How ‘in’ was Abe? Patti Boyd Harrison took a famous photo at his house in 1972 for the cover of George Harrison’s now classic album, “Living in the Material World.” The picture included Abe with Ringo Starr, Jim Horn, Klaus Voormann, George Harrison, Nicky Hopkins, Jim Keltner. When the album was released, it was used as the inside double gatefold.

The deaths in the last week of music industry giants already included Clarence Avant, Jerry Moss, and now Abe. Robbie Robertson died last week as well. We are slowly coming to the end of the greatest chapter in music history. equal to the great movie studio heads who made Hollywood. All the music we listen to is because of these people. Rest in peace, and condolences to Abe’s extended family — his wife, Annika, four children from three marriages– and all his friends. He will be sorely missed.

Chrissie Hynde brought the Pretenders to the Bowery Ballroom last night and blew the lid off the small club.

It was just as if it were 1981 and she was playing the Ritz. Listening to Hynde, and her band — all new players — you’d think no time had passed. Her voice remains supple and soaring, now aged like a fine single malt Scotch. Her music is melody rich rock that combines elements of funk, country, and R&B. It’s always been the same, it’s never changed, which is not admirable but a relief. Others have come and gone, by Hynde has been a mainstay.

You know Chrissie is a tough chick. On Tuesday night the Pretenders opened for Guns n Roses at the Meadowlands. Most of the songs she played where hits. Last night, no hits. Nineteen songs. Two or three were appreciated deep cut album favorites, like “Precious” and “Time the Avenger.” But the rest were just B and C sides that were largely unknown. “No one is singing along,” said a fan to my left as we stood like sardines pressed up against a post next to a staircase.

I replied, “It doesn’t matter.” It didn’t actually. Whoever did the sound gets an A. Chrissie and her three guys were in a sweet spot. The songs she chose — including a couple of new ones from a forthcoming album — were savvy choices. Several — “The Buzz,” “You Can’t Hurt a Fool,” “Junkie Walk,” “The Adulteress” — all got showcases they long deserved. Somehow they sounded as fresh and up to date as if they were coming on a new record.

The new songs– “A Love,” “Let the Sun Come In,” “Losing My Sense of Taste,” “Domestic Silence” — would all be hits if there were radio stations that weren’t ageist. But legacy artists like The Pretenders can’t get played on Top 40, and FM just plays their oldies. Hynde should do Tik Toks, but she’s too ornery for that. She barely does publicity and doesn’t seem to care if the records sell or not. (The last one, which I really liked, tanked.)

Forty years ago, Chrissie Hynde sang “I’m not the cat I used to be/I got a kid, I’m thirty-three, baby.” She’s almost 72 now, she is totally the cat she used to be, and for all I know she has grandchildren. I think it’s time for her, Patti Smith, and Joan Jett to make a buddy movie. We deserve it!

PS In the crowd, legendary 87 year old concert promoter Ron Delsener, looking spiffy. Rock music keeps you young!