Michael Leon, longtime music industry executive and husband of Leslee Dart, founder and chief publicist of 42 West, is at 2. He was 76 years old.
After joining the renowned independent label A&M Records in 1976, he rose to Senior Vice President and Head of East Coast Operations. Known for his gregarious leadership style and ear for emerging talent, he was instrumental in developing the careers of Suzanne Vega, Joan Armitrading, The Police, Squeeze and Supertramp, among others.
Leon also served as vice president of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, head of international for EMI Records Group and president of the independent label Hybrid Records.
After marrying Dart in 1996, he was often seen with her at galas around the world, playing the role of ‘Mr. Dart,” as he often called himself (he even changed his email name to “mistadart”).
Dart founded 42 West in 2004 after rising to prominence as president at PMK. Her clients have included Tom Hanks, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Nicole Kidman, Darren Aronofsky and Meryl Streep. She oversaw the sale of 42 West, a business she built in 2017 from two first employees to one of the largest public relations firms in Hollywood, to Dolphin Entertainment and she retired in 2021.
In addition to Dart, Leon is survived by his two sons, award-winning filmmaker Adam Leon (Gimme The Loot, Tramps) and Matthew Leon, currently an employee of the CAA music division.
Source: Deadline
Bernice Bonaparte is an author and entertainment journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a passion for pop culture and a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest entertainment news, Bernice has become a trusted source for information on the entertainment industry.
