BILLBOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF TIMOTHY WHITE SUCCUMBS TO HEART ATTACK

Billboard Editor in Chief Timothy White collapsed in the New York offices of the industry trade magazine and died of an apparent massive heart attack this afternoon. He was rushed to St. Vincent's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Details are not yet available, but there was reportedly a history of heart conditions in his family.

White began his career as an Associated Press copy boy, sports and entertainment writer. A Fordham University graduate, White was managing editor of Crawdaddy, a senior editor for Rolling Stone and co-produced his own award-winning nationally syndicated radio series. He was named Editor in Chief at Billboard in 1991.

He was the author of biographies on Bob Marley, James Taylor and the Beach Boys and recently published a selection of his "Music to My Ears" essays from Billboard.

He was honored with the City of Hope's "Spirit of Life" Award in 1998, when Don Passman said: "Timothy White has spent his entire distinguished 25-year career in music and entertainment journalism. During his tenure at Billboard, the publication has been at its most prosperous, a difficult achievement during a transitional time in the music and home entertainment industries."

In 1994, he told the Seattle Times, "We take enormous pride in the charts. "We are just the custodians. The charts have been around for so long they are part of the historic process of the magazine."

At the time of his death, White was 50 years old. White leaves behind his wife, Judy, and their 10-year-old twin sons, Christopher and Alexander. His last column will appear in the July 6 issue, which comes out tomorrow.