Lionel Job

If you sat for more than 5 minutes with my dad you heard a story about his music business days, who he met or who he worked with; and sometimes you may have heard it more than once. He was proud of what he built, and we were the lucky ones to hear all those amazing stories. I think he was passing them onto us to share with others. Besides the music biz executive, Lionel or Elkie as so many called him, was so much more. He was also a husband, father, brother, cousin, friend, mentor, supporter, good listener/advice giver, storyteller, protector, gardener, teacher, preacher, music producer, publisher, lyricist, manager, and songwriter. This past week so many people called and reached out after he passed and said things like, “I Iooked up to him”, “he taught me so much”, “he was always there for me”, “there aren’t many people like him”, “I was lucky to know him”. He touched so many people. What a legacy he left.

Lionel E. Job was born on January 23, 1942, in Aruba. His music career dates back fifty-five years. It all started when he was a young boy and was very fond of music. Coming from a Caribbean culture he loved calypso music, percussion and anything similar rhythmically. His mom, Linda, saw this and tried to teach him piano. He put music on hold for a short time to focus on track, but when he was a teenager the music bug came back. Around that time his family moved to Santa Cruz, Trinidad. That’s when he began to focus on music more seriously and started to play the steel drums. Lionel met and married Laurencia Romero and they had 3 children, Elizabeth, Curtis and Allan. Now in his 20s, and getting more and more into music, Lionel joined a steel drum band, Syncopators Steel Orchestra. After he and Laurencia parted ways, the Syncopators planned to play in the states. Lionel decided to follow with the band to the states. Little did he know that decision would change his life in so many ways.

Now in the mid 60s, living in Brooklyn, Lionel is playing in the Syncopators and teaching steel drum to kids in Harlem. One fateful Saturday night, the Syncopators played at a gala for The Sheik’s, a social group that Vere Gillman was a part of. Lorraine, Vere’s daughter, was in attendance. They met, he said he had kids, she said she did too and from that day on their story began. With Mark and Dawn, they moved to White plains, NY, and in 1972, Elizabeth and Curtis came to the States. A few years later Heather and Trevor were born, making it a family of 6. Allan came years later to make lucky number 7.

In 1977, Lionel was working for Famous Music in their professional department as Creative Director of R&B, the music publishing wing of Paramount Pictures, and by extension, the music publishing arm of its parent company, Gulf and Western. Simultaneously, Lionel was the founder, leader, manager, and producer of Southroad Connection, a disco-funk studio group. Before joining Famous Music, Lionel had been a prolific promoter for Chase H. Hansen Music Corporation, a large music publisher.

As Lionel was learning and soaking up all he could in the music business, from publishing to management and production, he decided to start his own company, Lionel Job Inc. Under that company he built a musical legacy, traveling all over the world and achieving tremendous success including, writing and producing for Artists such as:

Keith Sweat, Joe Public/Atension, Starpoint, Tyrese, Walter Beasley, Sharon Bryant, Southroad Connection, Atlantic Starr, The Detroit Spinners, 5 Star, Shades of Lace/LACE, Will Clayton, Leotis, Cliff Dawson, United Brass & Steel, Exact Change, JT Brown, Marz, Audrey Wheeler, Stanley Jordon, Double Xposure, Bert Robinson, Omar Chandler, Keesha, and Third World.

A few highlights from Lionel’s musical legacy include international artists Starpoint, Joe Public, and Tyrese.

Starpoint is an American R&B and funk band from Maryland that was active from 1978 to 1990, recording ten albums during that time. Their demo found its way to Lionel, who became the group’s manager-producer. He took the same demo to Ruben Rodriguez at Casablanca Records and got the group its first recording contract. The ten albums released did well, some reaching the US R&B Charts. As a producer and writer, Lionel collaborated often with Preston Glass, a legendary songwriter and producer, on several of Starpoint’s albums.

Joe Public is an American new jack swing group from Buffalo, New York. Joe Public evolved from the group Atension, and Lionel got them signed to Island Records in 1989. Their debut album on Columbia Records, Joe Public, included their hit single “Live and Learn” which became a top-40 hit peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1992. They continued to act as songwriters with Lionel writing the song “Keep It Comin’” for fellow New Jack Swing artist Keith Sweat in 1991, as well as songs for Tyrese.

As a result, Lionel Job’s career has produced an impressive list of awards and recognitions, including:

• Platinum Sales Award - “Keep It Comin’” - Keith Sweat
• Gold Sales Award - “Keep It Comin’” - Keith Sweat
• Platinum Sales Award / United Kingdom - “Between the Lines” - 5 Star
• Certified Sales Award/ United Kingdom - “Between the Lines” - 5 Star
• Gold Sales Award - “Restless” / Album - Starpoint
• Platinum Sales Award - “Tyrese” / Album - Tyrese
• Triple Platinum Sales Award/ United Kingdom - “Between the Lines”/ Album - 5 Star
• Gold Sales Award - “Rock the World” / Album - 5 Star
• National Dance Music Award - “Best Group” - Starpoint
• The African American Association of Celebrities 1993 - The Great Achievement Award

When Lionel wasn’t making hits in the studio, he and Lorraine enjoyed spending time with their children and grandchildren, going on vacations to the Caribbean, spending time in their vacation home in East Hampton or throwing parties in either house, which always revolved around family. Lionel enjoyed taking care of his homes, especially the house in East Hampton and was meticulous about his yard. If you were lucky, you could catch him pulling weeds from the driveway by hand from his tiny stool. That was his Zen time. Family was so important to Lionel. He always stressed the need for family to stay close together. And you could always count on him for any family gathering, whether a graduation, baptism, school play, birthday or just a BBQ, Lionel was there. Years ago, he and his cousin Robby Short started putting on Forrester Christmas parties. It was a chance for everyone to come together, get dressed up, whine to some calypso and catch up with family. Because of him, the younger generation has been inspired to continue that tradition.

Lionel and Lorraine were happily married for 43 years until Lorraine’s untimely passing in 2012. Soon after that he retired (sort of) from the music business. He was starting a new chapter of his life and then met his fiancé, Robin Williams. For 11 years they traveled, went to family gatherings and enjoyed his retirement together until his passing on June 19, 2023.

Lionel is survived by his two brothers, two sisters and their spouses, George & Indira Forrester, Earl & Judith Alexander, Ruby Ferreira and Ruth Eudora Job van Lare; his seven children, Mark, Elizabeth, Curtis, Dawn, Allan, Heather & Trevor; 13 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild and fiancé Robin.

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ATTENTION: As we continue to phase back into smaller capacity public visitations/services amid the continuing COVID & various health concerns, we need your help in limiting/controlling the number of people, so please govern yourself accordingly for the health & safety of all. Thank you so kindly!

A Walk-thru Wake/Visitation/Viewing will be held on Thursday, June 29th, 6:00-8:00PM at the St. Francis & St. Martha's Episcopal Church with limited capacity. Funeral Service will be held Friday, June 30th, at 9:30AM, also at the church. So you may come to the Church to try to attend, & feel free to wear masks. But the family will be live-streaming the Funeral Service on ZOOM, also available on our website the day of the service where it says WATCH WEBCAST, so you're able to view on ZOOM/here also/instead. At the very least you can get hand sanitizer & sign the register book (NOTE: please feel free to bring your own pen). If not at capacity, you will be allowed in to have a seat; but if at capacity by the time you get there, you may be required to leave the premises after signing register book, so as not to be in violation nor cause a health hazard, so please govern yourself accordingly. Regardless of if you're able to enter/be seated, or not, please refrain from touching/hugging/handshaking, preferably elbow bumping briefly. If instructed, PLEASE KINDLY RESPECTFULLY leave the building & premises if the church is at their capacity. PLEASE KINDLY RESPECTFULLY follow & abide by the directions of the funeral home staff and/or church or cemetery personnel at all times. We Thank You in advance for following directions & policies, so as to make all go smoothly the day of the services, to eliminate further burden on the family, and to maintain the health & safety of All. Any questions, or if any clarity is needed, please call ahead to the funeral home and/or church, and/or speak to us from a safe distance if present.

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The Entire Staff of Lee's Funeral Home, LLC respects that the family of Lionel "Elkie" Job entrusted the care of their loved one to us, and that they value the level of service & attention our funeral home provides. We are honored, in turn, to provide comfort, assistance and service to the Job Family during their time of bereavement.

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Please leave written condolences now herein on the Memory Wall to express your sorrow, share your memories, and as an expression of sympathy & way to communicate with/offer comfort to the family, that they and others may see, and may be a lasting tribute in his honor, whether you're able to attend or not. Definitely Please SIGN IN on the Memory Wall as a virtual way of signing the register book, especially if choosing to stay safe/not able to sign in person.

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Feel free to come to the church & cemetery wearing a mask, & wear a mask inside the church, and social distance as much as possible. If you know you have a coronovirus/COVID-19; are sick/experiencing symptoms of coronovirus/COVID-19; are immuno-compromised and/or have health/other conditions that make your body more susceptible to illness, please do NOT attend any services nor come to either facility. Please feel free to bring & use your own pen for signing the family's register book - you are encouraged to please BRING & use your own PEN for signing. Please follow & abide by the rules of the church & cemetery, and directions of the funeral home staff, church and/or cemetery personnel at all times. We Thank You in advance for following directions & any policies, so as to make all go smoothly the days of the services & burial, to eliminate further burden on the family, and to maintain the health & safety of All. Any questions, or if any clarity is needed, please call ahead to the church and/or funeral home, and/or speak to us from a safe distance if present.

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In LIEU of flowers, the family kindly instead requests a contribution be made in his name/memory/honor to St. Francis & St. Martha's Episcopal Church (address herein under Service Location). You may also choose to plant a tree as a lasting tribute, and/or a contribution may be made in his name/memory/honor as previously indicated above. If flowers are sent despite the family request, sending plants or vases the family may possibly keep is preferable & may be delivered on either Wed. June 28th, 2023 by/before 6:00PM to Lee's Funeral Home; or Thurs. June 29th by/before 3:00PM to Lee's Funeral Home; or Thurs. June 29th between 4:00-6:00PM to St. Francis & St. Martha's Episcopal Church. The Family Thanks You!