Jeff Silberman, R.I.P.
YESTERDAY was a very sad and emotional day as ALL ACCESS reported that our WEST COAST News Editor JEFF SILBERMAN passed away (NET NEWS 10/6) following complications of congestive heart failure. JEFF was 66, and had been with ALL ACCESS for the past 12 years.
SILBERMAN was born in CHICAGO, and earned a B.A. at NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIV. and an M.A. at SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIV. He moved to LOS ANGELES to write about the music scene, interviewing artists such as BOB MARLEY, FRANK ZAPPA, LOU REED, JOHNNY ROTTEN, X, DAVID LEE ROTH, BLONDIE, BLACK FLAG, STEVIE WONDER and DAVID BYRNE for magazines such as MUSIC CONNECTION, BAM, L. A. WEEKLY, L. A. READER, DIY and DAILY VARIETY.
In 1990, he began a radio trade career. He segued from HITMAKERS to NETWORK 40 for eight years, then BILLBOARD's AIRPLAY MONITOR and back to THE NETWORK MAGAZINE GROUP as Editor-In-Chief. In 2002, the group was downsized to the MusicBiz website, which he edited until its end in 2006. After a year in CHICAGO as Dir./Promotion & Marketing for indie label VICTORY RECORDS, SILBERMAN returned to LOS ANGELES as WEST COAST News Editor for ALL ACCESS.
ALL ACCESS Pres./Publisher JOEL DENVER noted, "We are all just devastated to lose JEFF. He was talented, witty and so well liked by everyone. JEFF always gave it 120%. I am most saddened about this for his wife BARBARA and son WILL who have been so supportive and optimistic that JEFF would recover. We will all miss JEFF so deeply and he will always be part of the ALL ACCESS FAMILY. GOD's blessings to you JEFF and the family."
JEFF is survived by his wife of 32 years, BARBARA and their son WILL as well as his mother ELAINE and his brother SCOTT.
JEFF's son WILL took to FACEBOOK:
ALL ACCESS EAST COAST Net News Editor PAT GILLEN said, "I first met JEFF in OCTOBER 1992 at NETWORK 40 MAGAZINE where I was the Managing Editor. From the minute JEFF joined the staff, we all knew we had an amazing editor making us all look good. Beyond his outstanding writing and editing skills, though, JEFF was a character. Anyone who met him was instantly amused by his - let's say - unique wit. JEFF certainly was one of a kind."
ALL ACCESS Triple A Editor JOHN SCHOENBERGER recalled, "I first met JEFF when we worked together at the NETWORK MAGAZINE GROUP many years ago and we have been friends ever since. I will miss his quick wit and his dedication to the radio/music business. JEFF always remained true to himself."
ROY TRAKIN, a part-time ALL ACCESS Net News Editor who worked closely with JEFF over the years, said this, "All of us are having a hard time processing this. But JEFF would’ve wanted us to go on with our lives, we all know that. He was that kind of guy. Hard-working, little nonsense, a man who loved his farm-fresh eggs and told great stories. I have his memoir on my computer, and it’s a hilarious, self-deprecating, but astute view of his life in this crazy business. He was/is one of a kind. Godspeed, Mr. SILBERMAN. They broke the mold with you... Best wishes to his wife and son, too. I know he cherished his family. I’m lighting a yahrzeit candle for JEFF, and hope his transition was peaceful... For those who knew him well, JEFF had a lacerating, dry sense of humor and a humility that was truly Zen-like. He will be missed by all he knew."
Details of services and a Celebration Of Life are pending.
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