Jeff Cheen, a legendary figure in the music industry, has passed away at the age of 80. His wife, Chunhong, confirmed the news, revealing that he lost his battle with cancer after a long and courageous fight. Cheen was not only a music icon but also a global promoter who played a pivotal role in introducing various Western musical genres to China.
Throughout his career, Cheen worked with some of the most influential names in the music world, including John Lennon, Deep Purple, Rick James, and Pink Floyd. He held key positions at major companies such as Tetragrammaton, Mercury, Capitol, and Far Out Music before expanding his influence into the Asian market.
One of his most significant contributions was his work with the Ministry of Culture for the People's Republic of China and Ausmusic in Australia. Cheen's company, InterStar Music, became the first Western firm to partner with Chinese entities to distribute pop and rock music across Asia. This partnership helped bridge the gap between Western and Eastern music cultures, creating new opportunities for artists on both sides of the globe.
During his time in China, Cheen introduced American blues, jazz, and reggae to a wide audience. He toured extensively with top acts throughout Asia, helping Chinese musicians embrace these Western styles. Under his guidance, two Chinese reggae albums, a Chinese jazz album, and a Chinese country album were produced, according to reports.
After spending 13 years in Beijing and Hong Kong, Cheen returned to the United States. He took on the role of Vice President of Business Development for B. B. King's blues clubs, where he managed worldwide corporate licensing. His efforts in this position helped expand the reach of blues music globally.
Cheen's InterStar Arts Alliance later shifted its focus to marketing for musicians. The company moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where Cheen continued to share his expertise by teaching the Business of Music at Catawba College. In addition to his teaching, he sought to help artists recover royalties they were owed from streaming, songwriting, and publishing in the Far East. He joined the Pacific Coast Group to support artists in this endeavor.
Cheen was also the founder of the Charlotte Music Awards in 2006 and a founding board member of the Hollywood Music in Media Awards. These initiatives helped recognize and celebrate musical talent in different regions.
In 2015, Cheen married his wife, Chunhong, and together they had two sons, Justin and Garrett, as well as two grandchildren, Henry and Eva. The family of the music legend is requesting that donations be made to Autism Speaks in his memory.
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