Ray Cooper, Former Virgin Records U.S. Co-President, Developer Of Spice Girls, Passes At 69

Ray Cooper

RAY COOPER, former VIRGIN RECORDS AMERICA Co-President with ASHLEY NEWTON — given credit for the worldwide success of the SPICE GIRLS — died on SATURDAY, JULY 28, in GUILDFORD, SURREY, ENGLAND at 69 from a rare neurological condition, Progressive Primary Aphasia (PPA), causing loss of speech.

Said VIRGIN RECORDS founder RICHARD BRANSON, "He was an extraordinary delightful individual and an incredible talent. VIRGIN RECORDS would never have grown into the music force it became without him.”

COOPER was originally named to the post with NEWTON in SEPTEMBER 1997 after coming over from VIRGIN U.K., which they led to become the third-largest music group in BRITAIN.

CAPITOL MUSIC GROUP President ASHLEY NEWTON praised his longtime partner: “I had the wild good fortune to be both a close friend and business ally with this vibrant, fearless, talented and kind man. Together, across several decades and labels, RAY and I were blessed to be consistently in the orbit of immensely important music – but like everyone around him, I was forever surrendering to his ridiculously sharp and eccentric sense of humor. We literally laughed through the ages and I will miss him more than words can express.” 

COOPER started his career in 1972 as a sales rep at TRANSATLANTIC RECORDS, seguing to ANCHOR RECORDS, then DON ARDEN's JET RECORDS, where he helped break ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA worldwide. COOPER became a Sales Director for ISLAND RECORDS in 1980, then Marketing Director, responsible for a world-class roster that included BOB MARLEY, U2 and FRANKIE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD. It was there he first met and formed a successful working partnership with the label’s A&R Director ASHLEY NEWTON.

The two launched CIRCA RECORDS in the U.K. in 1986, releasing albums by MASSIVE ATTACK and NENEH CHERRY before the label was acquired by VIRGIN in 1995, with both being named Co-Managing Directors, where they famously broke the SPICE GIRLS, DAFT PUNK and THE VERVE.  They were subsequently named Co-Presidents of the U.S. label by then-EMI RECORDED MUSIC head KEN BERRY, where they joined his wife NANCY BERRY. With NEWTON in charge of A&R and COOPER handling marketing, the team took the label to new heights, with hit acts like JANET JACKSON, SMASHING PUMPKINS, LENNY KRAVITZ, N.E.R.D., THE ROLLING STONES and DAVID BOWIE. 

SPICE GIRL VICTORIA BECKHAM offered her own tribute: “I am saddened to hear of the passing of RAY COOPER. RAY’s guidance, support, creative and marketing ideas from the very beginning were invaluable to the success of the SPICE GIRLS. It was obvious to all who spent time with RAY that he was not only a favorite to his team, but also a favorite to artists and their managers. RAY had passion for life and his work and it showed in his many successes. I will be forever grateful to RAY COOPER.  RAY – Rest In Peace.” 

COOPER remained at VIRGIN RECORDS until 2002, when he formed his own VENICE, CA-based management/consulting company ZAMA MEDIA MANAGEMENT and worked for the environmental organization FUTURE FORESTS.   He was also part of a team that helped bring the CHINESE group the TWELVE GIRLS BAND to NORTH AMERICA in 2004, and founded D(ICON)STRUCT, a company that linked artists with MILAN, ITALY, designers to develop fashion lines for clients such as MASSIVE ATTACK.

RAY is survived by partner PHILIPPA, sister PAM, daughter BECKY, grandsons JAMES and JACK, step-daughter LIANA and son CHRISTOPHER-ROBIN.

Celebrations marking what would have been his 70th birthday in DECEMBER will be held in LONDON and LOS ANGELES, where he had worked since 1998.

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