Joel Katz, a revered figure in the music and entertainment law world, has passed away, leaving behind a remarkable legacy that stretches across decades.
Darryl B. Cohen, a longtime friend and fellow attorney, reflected on Katz’s larger-than-life persona, stating, “He was bigger than life in everything he did.
When he represented someone ― whether it was Willie Nelson or Jimmy Buffett ― he only did it at the highest level.
He loved the music business.
The better he did, the happier he was.”
Despite Katz’s immense reputation, representatives for notable law firms Greenberg Traurig and Barnes & Thornburg did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding his passing.
Katz was known as an international legal powerhouse, boasting a Rolodex with more than 6,000 names.
His journey to success was humble; as he recounted during a 2014 commencement address at Kennesaw State University, Katz started with virtually nothing.
Originally from New York, he attended the University of Tennessee through a scholarship and juggled a six-day-a-week job as a Holiday Inn night clerk while in law school.
After graduating in 1969, Katz moved to a one-bedroom apartment in Atlanta, where he began his career as a teaching assistant at Georgia State University.
In 1971, he opened a law practice, initially working out of a small office and sharing a secretary with other lawyers while facing the daunting challenge of having no clients.
One fateful afternoon, the phone rang; a banker who had taken Katz’s course at Georgia State was calling for help.
He needed a good entertainment lawyer for a client.
Curiously, the banker asked, “Do you know anything about entertainment law?”
Katz thought for a moment, then replied, “I was honest.
‘No, I know nothing.’”
In an unexpected turn, this honesty proved advantageous.
The next day, Katz was introduced to the legendary singer James Brown in a penthouse suite at downtown Atlanta’s Omni, where Brown was preparing for a photoshoot.
After a brief conversation, Brown decided to hire the untested lawyer, writing him a retainer check for $2,500.
Their journey together quickly escalated to negotiating a monumental recording contract in New York, where Katz was tasked with securing $5 million and several extravagant demands for Brown.
Katz recalled the shock of recording executives when they heard Brown’s lofty terms.
One executive bellowed, “No one who understood the recording industry would ask for such crazy things.”
Reflecting on those moments, Katz realized, “I began to realize why Mr. Brown chose me.”
Ultimately, Brown secured much of what he wanted, and Katz accompanied him to a news conference where the singer praised him as “the best entertainment lawyer in the whole world.”
Katz collected $50,000 for his work on the contract and maintained a relationship with Brown until the singer’s death on Christmas Day in 2006.
As Katz’s career flourished, he soon caught the attention of numerous high-profile clients.
It wasn’t long before he received a call from country music artist Willie Nelson, who, having seen articles declaring Katz as the best in the business, sought his services.
Katz’s career continued to grow alongside his philanthropic efforts.
He became an ardent supporter of the T.J. Martell Foundation, which encourages funding for leukemia, cancer, and AIDS research.
In 2016, the foundation established the Joel A. Katz Music is Medicine Fund, dedicated to innovative cancer research at the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University.
This announcement coincided with the unveiling of musical memorabilia donated by Katz, including signed guitars from artists like Buffett, Nelson, Paul McCartney, and others.
In attendance during the exhibit’s display were prominent figures like then-Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, ex-U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, and Atlanta’s broadcasters, Frank Ski and Monica Pearson, who gathered to support Katz.
Cagle presented Katz with a proclamation in his honor, celebrating a career that showed immense impact.
Stephen Weizenecker, an entertainment attorney who collaborated with Katz for many years, spoke fondly of their time together.
He described watching Katz negotiate as akin to a master class, highlighting his adaptability from tough negotiator to amiable friend to secure the best outcomes for his clients.
Weizenecker recalled a trip where Katz flew him in his private plane to meet with Willie Nelson, describing Katz as an unstoppable force, packed with phone calls and meetings that filled his days.
Even on weekends, Katz was known to be at the office, demonstrating a commitment to his clients and practice.
Despite frequent travels, he cherished Atlanta as his home base and never relocated to the more traditional entertainment hubs of New York, Nashville, or Los Angeles.
Weizenecker emphasized Katz’s role in transforming Atlanta into a significant center for entertainment law, calling him a pioneer in the industry.
Katz was involved with the Recording Academy since the late 1980s, ultimately serving as its general counsel.
He played a critical role in negotiating a $600 million deal in 2016, securing the Grammy Awards and related programming on CBS through 2026.
In January 2020, Katz faced serious allegations of sexual harassment from Deborah Dugan, the former CEO of the Recording Academy.
Dugan filed a statement with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, claiming Katz made inappropriate comments and gestures toward her in a 2019 meeting.
Katz denied all allegations through his attorney and officially resigned from his position the following year.
Katz’s funeral service is scheduled for Arlington Memorial Park on Tuesday, though the exact time is yet to be disclosed.
Shiva will take place from Tuesday through Thursday at Temple Sinai in Sandy Springs.
He is survived by his wife, two daughters, and grandchildren, leaving behind a profound legacy in both the legal and music worlds.
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