Nigel Grainge

Music entrepreneur who signed Sinead 0’Connor

PIONEERING BRITISH Jewish music entrepreneur Nigel Grainge, who signed and developed a wide range of successful recording artists and founded Ensign Records, has died aged 70 in Santa Monica, California from complications following recent surgery.

Grainge, who began his music career in the 1970s, signed and developed artists ranging from Sinead O’Connor to The Boomtown Rats, Thin Lizzy, The Waterboys, 10cc, Steve Miller Band and Eddy Grant. For his A&R role talent-scouting and developing recording artists and songwriters, he was described by Billboard magazine as “one of the most respected and knowledgeable A&R men in the business.”

Born in North London, Grainge grew up surrounded by music. His parents Jeanette, who worked for the CEO of a bank, and Cecil, who owned a record shop, developed in him an obsession for music. His younger brother Sir Lucian Grainge, chairman of Universal Music Group, recalled:

“On Nigel’s third birthday, dad started giving him a 78rpm record every weekend. Those records covered every conceivable genre: from Beethoven to Ray Charles to Louis Armstrong to Bill Haley.”

Grainge attended Coldfall Primary School in Muswell Hill from 1954-58, followed by Christ’s College, Finchley. He began his music industry career in 1970 as a credit control clerk in the accounting department at Phonogram (then known as Phillips Records). In 1973, he was appointed label manager for all the US, where he played a key role in the success of UK hits It’s Four in the Morning, by Faron Young and My Ding-A-Ling by Chuck Berry.

In 1976, Grainge formed his own label, Ensign (“N” for Nigel, “signs”). There he would sign the Boomtown Rats and the Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Sinéad O’Connor. The label would also release many influential reggae and jazz-funk recordings.

A decade later, Ensign was sold to Chrysalis Records, and Nigel set up a successful publishing company called Dizzy Heights, which was sold to German music company Edel in 2000.

In 2002, Grainge moved to Los Angeles as a consultant to artists, publishers and record companies. His most recent venture was a Los-Angeles based startup, TunesMap — an innovative company dedicated to “visualising the world around your favourite music.” The early-stage company is currently working with several major music companies.

A family man and lifelong Arsenal supporter, he is survived by daughters, Heidi and Roxie; a sister, Stephanie; two brothers, Sir Lucian Grainge and Justin Grainge; and a grandson, Jasper.

Nigel Grainge: Born October 4, 1947. Died June 11, 2017