Chip Hooper at Fare Thee Well- photo by Patrick Jordan

Eight months ago today, Chip Hooper, the worldwide head of music at Paradigm Talent Agency, passed away after an extended battle with cancer. In our April_May issue, Red Light Management’s Patrick Jordan wrote this memorial piece for Hooper, who worked with Phish, Dave Matthews Band and many other artists over the course of a celebrated career.

The world of music suffered another heartbreaking loss on March 5 with the passing of legendary agent Chip Hooper. While Chip wasn’t a cultural icon like Bowie or Lemmy, Chip’s behind the scenes work as an agent for longtime clients like Phish and Dave Matthews Band, and as the worldwide head of the Paradigm Talent Agency, has made an impact on the music business that will endure for generations to come. Chip’s passions for music, art, friends and, especially, his family were incredibly contagious to anyone he came in contact with, and he was beloved for it.

Prior to working in the music business, I was a fan of the aforementioned bands and drove countless miles to see them perform, often wondering why they chose to play the ski resort or the small college theater instead of the “blank” arena. Only years later did I learn of the hours upon hours of strategic conversations between band and management that led to those decisions. At the center of those conversations for DMB and Phish was Chip Hooper.

My first conversation with Chip Hooper, in March of 2003, set the tone for our entire relationship. I was a brand new record-industry defector entering into the world of artist management at Red Light. My job title was “marketing,” but with Dave Matthews Band’s current day-to-day manager departing the company within two weeks of my arrival, there was an incredible sense of urgency to learn as much as I could as fast as possible.

During that initial conversation, Chip instantly disarmed my nervous energy by asking me a barrage of questions about every aspect of my life. The subjects ranged from my upbringing to my hobbies and my taste in music. Was I married? Did I drink wine? I can barely remember everything we talked about, but the conversation easily lasted an hour or two. We never got to the business matters at hand that day, as Chip had to take another call. I was stunned that this busy guy would want to spend so much time hearing about what made me tick. He wasn’t being polite—he actually wanted to know everything about me. This is how Chip did business. He was a master of humanizing everything he did, especially business. As a result, he became friendswith almost everyone he encountered, and it was clear after our initial conversation that we were going to be great friends.

 

As time went on, Chip became a key resource as my duties with Dave Matthews Band and Red Light grew over the years. His seemingly tireless mentorship was easily one of the biggest gifts ever bestowed on me. Over the years, he counseled me through countless professional and personal tribulations. When it came time for my first child to be born, he relished in giving advice on parenting, as his children were his ultimate pride and joy. As a young parent in a demanding business, it was reassuring to see an executive I looked up to so close to his children. It gave me hope that I wasn’t going to screw up this parenting thing, despite my schedule and work-related travel. When I was fucking up, Chip would be the first person to let me know. He would often ring my desk phone late after hours and, when I would answer, he would tell me to go home and be with my family. He understood balance. Chip loved a good sports analogy and, to many, he was the Michael Jordan of agents. He would score a triple-double on a daily basis in the areas of friendship, loyalty and striving to do what’s right for the client. He was a larger than life superhero. So you can imagine the incredible shock and sadness I felt several years ago when he called to give me the news that he had cancer and the prognosis wasn’t good. Just like our first conversation, I can vividly recall exactly where I was when he called. It was devastating news at the time, although Chip assured me and everyone else that he would be here for a long time. He believed that half the battle was mental, just as much as it was physical, and he proceeded to put up a heroic fight for several years. Although his prognosis would have meant instant retirement for many other people, Chip still had work to do. His will and spirit helped him fight back the cancer and he returned to Paradigm.

When Chip was well enough, I went out to visit him in Carmel, Calif., because he wanted to show me the area around his home he liked to photograph. While I knew that Chip was a gallery-level photographer and had even attended one of his openings in New York City, I didn’t quite understand the craft of photography, although I was fascinated by it. Chip knew of my interest and was determined to show me a favorite muse, the California coastline near and around Big Sur. We spent the day driving around and taking in the spectacular views while Chip explained the various inspirations and techniques he employed to make his pictures. He took me to his studio/darkroom complex where I stood in awe as I absorbed the incredible process that entailed creating a picture. The amount of patience and attention to detail that he devoted to every photo was incredible. In our digital age where “more” is often more, Chip’s approach to photography was painstakingly slow and deliberate. He often spent weeks in the darkroom refining a single photo until it was perfect. “Satisfactory” was not in his vocabulary.

Over the years, I began to see the influence that Chip’s art had on his work as an agent and executive. The same vision, patience and attention to detail were crucial tools in building the touring careers of both Phish and DMB. He once said, “When you are willing to devote yourself to it, there can be bigger rewards than expected.” While he was referring to his photography, those who knew Chip recognized that he applied that theory to everything in his life. From raising his two children to his friendships and his selfless mentoring of many young agents, promoters and managers (including me), Chip passionately pursued every moment of his life. To me, he was the Michael Jordan of life. Thank you, Chip. We will miss you.