Colin Lester

Colin Lester
Colin Lester - British music manager
Background information
Birth name	Colin Lester
Born	(1960-05-26) 26 May 1960 (age 56)
Origin	London, United Kingdom
Genres	R&B, indie rock, soul, rock and roll, disco, pop, progressive rock
Occupation(s)	Artist manager
Years active	1979–present
Associated acts	Craig David Travis Arctic Monkeys Daisy Chainsaw The Brand New Heavies Remi Nicole Max Culley
Website	http://www.jemartists.com/

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.

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’.

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.

Lester began his career in the music business as a guitarist with London glam rock outfit, The Eyes. At the age of 19, Lester and The Eyes signed their first recording contract in 1979 with Don Arden’s Jet Records. Following the demise of The Eyes two years later, Lester entered artist management. 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.

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. Under Wildlife’s guidance, The Brand New Heavies produced their album, Brother Sister which achieved multi-platinum success around the world. Wildlife Entertainment also managed Carleen Anderson who followed her success with the Young Disciples with an acclaimed solo career.