Tony Barrow
Posted: Wed May 18, 2016 10:28 amTony Barrow, who gave up his career as a journalist and music critic to become the Beatles’ first publicist in 1962, and who for the next six years played a crucial role in shaping the public’s perception of the Fab Four — a nickname he coined — died on Saturday in Morecambe, England. He was 80.
His death was confirmed by the Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn, who had known Mr. Barrow for 35 years.
In one of his first acts as the Beatles’ manager, Brian Epstein wrote to Mr. Barrow in December 1961 hoping to get the group mentioned in “Off the Record,” the record review column Mr. Barrow had been writing for The Liverpool Echo under the pen name Disker since 1954.
His death was confirmed by the Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn, who had known Mr. Barrow for 35 years.
In one of his first acts as the Beatles’ manager, Brian Epstein wrote to Mr. Barrow in December 1961 hoping to get the group mentioned in “Off the Record,” the record review column Mr. Barrow had been writing for The Liverpool Echo under the pen name Disker since 1954.