Madonna paid her respects to Seymour Stein, who helped launch her career in 1983 after signing her to Sire Records, with a touching tribute post dedicated to the exec. Stein died at age 80 on Sunday after a long battle with cancer.
When the pair first met, Madonna was a relatively unknown Manhattan club act but quickly vaulted to superstardom upon signing to Sire. Under Stein’s wing, the singer produced three No. 1 albums, 10 No. 1 singles and a total of 23 top-10 hits before launching her own Maverick imprint in 1992.
“Seymour Stein Has Left Us! I need to catch my breath,” Madonna wrote in the caption of an Instagram post on Monday that detailed the moment she and Stein met. As the story goes, the music mogul eagerly signed Madonna after hearing a demo of her song “Everybody” while he was recovering from open-heart surgery.
“He had a cannula up his nose and a saline Drip in his arm! He was grinning like the Cheshire Cat,” she said. See her full tribute below.
ned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram/p/CqlKj0du6-J/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14">A post shared by Madonna (@madonna)
“Seymour Stein Has Left Us! I need to catch my breath. He Was one of the most influential Men in my Life!! He changed and Shaped my world. I must Explain.
I stalked a DJ named Mark Kamin- for a year at a club called Danceteria! In the Early 80’s. He finally agreed to play my demo of a song called “Everybody” on a Saturday night. The Club was packed. An A&R man from SIRE records was there—Michael Rosenblatt. He heard the music and asked me if he could bring me to meet his boss Seymour Stein. I Couldn’t get the words “Hell Yes”! out of my mouth fast enough!
Unfortunately Seymour was in the hospital for a Heart Ailment! I didn’t care. Lets Goooooo! When I met him he was laying in a hospital bed wearing his boxer shorts and a wife beater! He had a cannula up his nose and a saline Drip in his arm! He was grinning like the Cheshire Cat.
I was carrying my giant boombox ready to play My cassette for him immediately! He smiled and laughed when he saw me and asked me if I was related to the Virgin Mary!! Hahahhahahaa. I knew we would hit it off. I played him the song a few times. He signed me to his record label that day!!
This moment changed the course of my Life Forever. And was the beginning of my journey as a Musical Artist. Not only did Seymour hear me but he Saw me and my Potential! For this I will be eternally grateful!
I am weeping as I write this down. Words cannot describe how I felt at this moment after years of grinding and being broke and getting every door slammed in my face.
Anyone who knew Seymour knew about his passion for music and his impeccable taste. He had an Ear like no other! He was Intense -Wickedly Funny-a little bit Crazy And Deeply intuitive.
Dearest Seymour you will never be forgotten!! Thank You! Thank you Thank you! . . Shine on!!!”
Over his 50-year-long career, Stein signed and worked with top acts including Depeche Mode, Ice-T, Lou Reed, the Pretenders, the Smiths, the Cure, Seal, the Replacements, Aphex Twin and many more artists who released their top hits on Sire, whether via a direct signing or a licensing deal.
