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Former Motown CEO Found Dead in Malibu Home

Jheryl Busby, a former president/CEO of Motown Records best known for working with Boyz II Men and Johnny Gill, was found dead in his Malibu home on Tuesday. According to an Associated Press report, Busby was discovered in his hot tub. He was 59.

"It was a possible accident or else he died of natural causes," Ed Winter, Los Angeles County's Assistant Coroner Chief, told the AP.

Busby started his career off at Stax and was at the top of Motown between 1988 and 1995. In recent years, he's worked at the urban division of DreamWorks (1998-2001) and Def Soul Classics, a division of Def Jam.

"I had tremendous respect for the way he continued the Motown legacy," Smokey Robinson said in a statement. "My condolences to his family at this difficult time."

—The ARTISTdirect Staff
11.05.08