Former Blues Brothers consultant dies at 62 in NYC

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Former Blues Brothers consultant dies at 62 in NYC
7/15/2009
Associated Press

NEW YORK — A former Atlantic Records music executive who helped transform the Blues Brothers from a "Saturday Night Live" skit into Grammy Award-nominated recording artists has died in New York City.

Michael Klenfner (KLEHF'-ner) was 62.

Daughter Kate Klenfner says he died Tuesday from complications of congestive heart failure. She describes him as "the famous man in the music business no one had ever heard of."

In the 1970s, Klenfner helped comedians Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi take their "SNL" act about an American blues and soul revivalist band to the top of the charts. The Blues Brothers' songs include "Rubber Biscuit" and "Soul Man."

Klenfner later helped steer Cher's comeback with her 1998 hit "Believe."

He promoted hundreds of other musicians in a career spanning more than 30 years