John McClain, the co-executor of Michael Jackson's estate and a longtime music industry executive, died on Tuesday at the age of 71 in Malibu, California. His specific cause of death has not yet been announced, though insiders told TMZ that he had been dealing with ill health in recent years.
Career Highlights
McClain worked at the top of the music industry in multiple capacities, including as a producer and A&R executive. He collaborated with artists such as Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Ice Cube, and Dr. Dre. Notably, he was an executive at A&M Records during the release of Janet Jackson's breakthrough 1986 album Control.
Legal Battles and Estate Management
In recent months, McClain and fellow co-executor John Branca made headlines due to ongoing court battles with Michael Jackson's daughter, Paris. Attorneys for the estate executors told the Daily Mail earlier this month that they felt vindicated after the judge in the case acknowledged that the executors had 'created real and substantial generational wealth for the estate's beneficiaries.' The executors' legal team also noted that 'the court has previously approved several other bonuses to outside counsel over the years for their extraordinary services, and this was the first time they were the subject of objections.'
