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{{Infobox musical artist | name = Colin Lester | image = Colin Lester 1.JPG | caption = Colin Lester - British music manager | image_size = 147 | birth_name = Colin Lester | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1960|5|26}} | origin = London, England | genre = R&B, pop, rock | occupation = Artist manager | years_active = 1979–present | associated_acts = Craig David<br />Travis<br />Arctic Monkeys<br />Daisy Chainsaw<br /> The Brand New Heavies<br /> Remi Nicole<br /> Max Culley | website = http://colinlester.com/ | honorific_suffix = OBE | current_members = | past_members = }}

'''Colin Lester''' (born 26 May 1960 in London) is a British artist manager of R&B, pop and rock music acts.

Colin Lester has managed the careers for numerous British and international artists. He was awarded 'The Peter Grant Award' for outstanding achievement from the United Kingdom's Music Manager Forum in 2002.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}

In 2007, Lester was awarded the prestigious 'Gold Badge Award' by BASCA (The British Academy of Songwriters and Composers Association) for his work with UK songwriters. The following year, in 2008, Lester was made a 'Visiting Fellow' of Southampton Solent University where he also lectures on topics of the 'Music Industry'.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}

Lester owned a significant stake in the recording company Wildstar Records for which he also acted as co-director and co-owned artist management Wildlife Entertainment.<ref>{{cite web |title=MANAGERS NEED TO MOTIVATE ARTISTS. BUT WE ALSO NEED ARTISTS TO MOTIVATE US.' |url=https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/managers-need-motivate-artists-also-need-artists-motivate-us/ |website=Music Business World Wide |date=28 February 2017 |publisher=MBWW |accessdate=22 July 2018}}</ref>

==Professional life==

===Management===

Lester began his career in the music business as a guitarist with London glam rock outfit, The Eyes.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} At the age of 19, Lester and The Eyes signed their first recording contract in 1979 with Don Arden's Jet Records.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} Following the demise of The Eyes two years later, Lester entered artist management.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} His first major signing was the UK indie band Daisy Chainsaw followed by signings of singer/songwriter Martyn Joseph and Manchester duo, JJ, both of whom he negotiated recording contracts for with CBS Records, now known as Sony Records.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}

In 1994, Lester joined the management company Wildlife Entertainment in partnership with Ian McAndrew (who had previously managed Tasmin Archer and Bomb the Bass) to manage London funksters, The Brand New Heavies.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} Under Wildlife's guidance, The Brand New Heavies produced their album, ''Brother Sister'' which achieved multi-platinum success around the world.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} Wildlife Entertainment also managed Carleen Anderson who followed her success with the Young Disciples with an acclaimed solo career.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}

In 1996, Wildlife Entertainment took charge of the career of Scottish four-piece Travis who signed to Andy MacDonald's Independiente Records after the release of their debut album.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} Travis' second album, ''The Man Who'' was released in 1999 and established Travis as one of the biggest selling UK acts between 1999 and 2002.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} In 1997, Lester, together with McAndrew, formed the UK record label Wildstar Records in partnership with Capital Radio and Telstar Records.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} Wildstar Records enjoyed immediate success with South London soul singer Conner Reeves, before scoring top 5 hits with Lutricia McNeal, Alda and Fierce.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}

In 1999, Lester discovered and signed 18-year-old Craig David.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} His Wildstar debut, "Fill Me In" made Craig David the youngest male solo artist ever to achieve a number one single,{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} and his subsequent hits, "7 Days" and "Walking Away", boosted sales of David's debut album, ''Born to Do It'' to over 7 million copies including 1.8 million sales in North America.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} To date, Craig David, under Lester's management, has sold in excess of 13 million records.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} In 2003, Lester and McAndrew, in partnership with Geoff Barradale, signed Sheffield four-piece Arctic Monkeys.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} Their debut album, ''Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not'' was released in January 2006, and was the biggest selling debut album by a band in the UK of all time.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} It entered the UK charts at #1 where it remained for 5 weeks and has so far sold in excess of 2 million copies around the world.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}

In 2010, Lester merged his company CLM Entertainment with Twenty First Artists and was subsequently appointed Global Chief Executive Officer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Universal Republic Ventures into Producer Management with Twenty First Artists, Worlds End (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/universal-republic-ventures-producer-management-172129 |website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=28 March 2011 |publisher=Hollywood Reporter |accessdate=22 July 2018}}</ref> Twenty-First Artists was originally launched in 2000 and has represented artists such as Elton John, Jamiroquai, James Blunt and Lily Allen among many others.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}} The company was sold to The Sanctuary Music Group in 2005 and was subsequently acquired by Universal Music Group in 2007.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}

In 2023, Lester was granted an O-1 Classification Visa for the United States.<ref>{{cite web |title=O-1 Secured For Music Manager' |url=https://www.wildeslaw.com/immigration-resources/latest-immigration-news/o-1-secured-for-music-manager/ |website=Wildes & Weinberg |date=2 May 2023 |accessdate=2 May 2023}}</ref>

===Awards===

In addition to his role as CEO/Chairman of JEM, Colin has been awarded many awards throughout his career including an Honorary Doctorate from Southampton Solent University where he is a regular lecturer. He was awarded 'The Peter Grant Award' for outstanding achievement from the UK's Music Manager Forum in 2002, the Gold Badge Award' by BASCA (The British Academy of Songwriters and Composers Association) for his work with UK songwriters in 2007 and the 'Artist Loyalty Award' for his longstanding relationship with Craig David at the 2016 A&R awards. He is also on the board of trustees for the MOBO Charity (Music of Black Origin) and is also on the committee of the Holocaust charity 'The 45 Aid Society' where he annually raises funds for worthy community and aid projects on their behalf.<ref>{{cite web |title=Craig David praises long-time manager and friend after stellar comeback year |url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/15060707.Craig_David_praises_long-time_manager_and_friend_after_stellar_comeback_year/ |website=Daily Echo UK |accessdate=22 July 2018}}</ref>

===OBE=== On 30 December 2020, Lester was announced on the Queen's New Year Honours List to receive an OBE in recognition of his services to the music industry and to charity.<ref>{{cite web |title=Craig David and Colin Lester named in New Year Honours List |url=https://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/craig-david-and-colin-lester-named-in-new-year-honours-list/082298 |website=Music Week |accessdate=30 December 2020}}</ref>

==External links== *[https://archive.today/20130205052523/http://www.twentyfirstartists.com/ Official website] *[http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?storyCode=1036242&sectioncode=1/ Music Week Publication] *[http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i06f98e10911e22ca3ed20971a708444f?imw=Y US Billboard Publication] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130115033920/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i06f98e10911e22ca3ed20971a708444f?imw=Y |date=15 January 2013 }} *[http://www.clm-entertainment.com/Southampton-Solent-University-Magazine-May-2009.pdf Southampton University News]{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221123/http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview%2Fopar%2Fintrview_Colin_Lester_Interview.html Interview, HitQuarters 10 December 2001]

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lester, Colin}} Category:English music managers Category:English talent agents Category:1960 births Category:Living people Category:Officers_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire