Former A&M Records President Gil Friesen has passed away at the age of 75 from leukemia. Friesen also served as President of A&M Films for a time. He began his career in the music industry at Capitol Records, and was named the first ever GM of A&M Records.

According to Deadline, Friesen was involved with the success of artists ranging from Joe Cocker to Cat Stevens to Sting to Janet Jackson. He was named President of A&M in 1977 and in the early '80s, launched A&M's film division. A&M Films produced roughly a dozen films, but its most notable one was the teen classic The Breakfast Club.

In 1989, Polygram acquired A&M Records and Films, and Friesen exited a year later. He later co-founded the Classic Sports Cable Network, which was later sold to ESPN.