Antonio “LA” Reid has been a key figure in shaping the sound and experience of popular music for over twenty-five years—as a record producer, songwriter, and label executive. Reid first broke into the music world in the 1980s as the drummer for the R&B band the Deele. Along with bandmate Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Reid made his move behind the scenes of the industry in 1989 when he founded LaFace Records. Prior to becoming chairman and CEO of Epic Records in July 2011, Reid also served as chairman of the former Island Def Jam Music Group from 2004 to 2011 and as president and CEO of Arista Records from 2000 to 2004.

Reid’s excellence in the music world is not limited to his work as an executive. Winner of eighteen BMI Awards, he’s also a talent in his own right. Reid has produced and/or co-written dozens of number one singles and has won three Grammy Awards. He has been presented with numerous acknowledgements, including UNICEF’s Spirit of Compassion Award, the Recording Academy’s President’s Merit Award, and the prestigious Harvard University Alumni Award for Excellence in Media and Entertainment. Reid lives in Manhattan with his wife, Erica, and his two children Arianna and Addison. He has three grown children, Antonio, Ashley, and Aaron.