Music industry trailblazer Harold Childs has died of leukaemia at the age of 80 in L.A on Sunday 27 August, according to Billboard.

Childs was known for breaking barriers at a black man supervising pop music promotion at A&M Records in the 1970s.

Known as a vibrant, business savvy and well-dressed individual, his career in the industry lasted over 50 years and included stints at Victor, Qwest Records and Warner Bros. Records.

“He was a consummate ‘Record Man,’” Direct Management co-founder Martin Kirkup told Billboard.

“I was vp of artist development from 1975-85 and worked with Harold for most of that decade. He was passionate about the wide range of music that A&M embraced, with great instincts for the tactics and strategy of breaking records. But what really made him special was his personal warmth, good humor and his endless interest in other people. That’s why people were so devoted to him.”

“@JackWagnerFans: FLASHBACK FRIDAY! @JackWagnerhpk @QuincyDJones Harold Childs & Kelli Ross after a performance pic.twitter.com/eIjN2ZDPgz” TY

— Jack Wagner (@JackWagnerhpk) December 20, 2013

Born in 1943 in Philadelphia, Childs started working in the stock room at Marnel Record Distributors while still in high school.

He would later move to RCA Victor as regional promotion manager, where he worked with artists like Peter Nero and Henry Mancini.

In 1969 he joined A&M in New York as a national sales and promotion director.

He relocated to Los Angeles in 1971, retaining his same role at A&M. Having played an integral role in the company’s evolution as a leading independent label, he left in 1984 and subsequently worked for a number of record companies.

Over the years, Childs contributed opinion pieces for many trade publications.

In 2000, he received the coveted Living Legends Award from Impact Magazine, which honours forward thinking record execs.