Aha&x27;s Former Manager Terry Slater, Key to Their Success, Dies at 85 Andrea ReiherSun, August 2, 2026 at 1:23 AM UTC 0 One of the key architects behind Aha&x27;s rise from struggling musicians in London to one of the biggest pop acts of the 1980s has died. Former manager Terry Slater has died at the age of 85, prompting an emotional tribute from Aha keyboardist Magne Furuholmen, who described Slater as "the singularly most important person in Aha&x27;s music career.
A-ha's Former Manager Terry Slater, Key to Their Success, Dies at 85
Andrea ReiherSun, August 2, 2026 at 1:23 AM UTC
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One of the key architects behind A-ha's rise from struggling musicians in London to one of the biggest pop acts of the 1980s has died.
Former manager Terry Slater has died at the age of 85, prompting an emotional tribute from A-ha keyboardist Magne Furuholmen, who described Slater as "the singularly most important person in A-ha's music career."
Furuholmen announced Slater's death in a heartfelt Instagram post, reflecting on the moment the veteran music executive first believed in the young Norwegian trio more than four decades ago.
"Forty-three years ago, give or take a couple of months, Terry Slater took a chance on three scruffy, hopeful Norwegians living in London squalor with a burning ambition and some degree of talent," Furuholmen wrote. "With this he pioneered what was to become the first Norwegian artists to have major hits and top the charts around the world."
That gamble paid off. After taking on A-ha in 1983, Slater helped guide Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, Magne Furuholmen and Morten Harket to worldwide success. The band broke through internationally with 1985's "Take On Me," which became a global smash thanks in part to its groundbreaking animated music video. A-ha would go on to score additional hits including "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." and "Hunting High and Low," eventually becoming Norway's biggest international music act.
'He Really Cared'
While Slater brought decades of music industry experience to the relationship, Furuholmen said it was his personal support that made the biggest difference.
"He was already a towering figure in the music world when we first met, but more than just his business boldness, experience, knowhow, network etc., he became a kind of father figure and a good friend," he wrote. "He really cared. About the band, and the three of us as people, guiding us with a steady hand through the many trappings and pitfalls of success."
Furuholmen added that Slater "is without a doubt the person with the greatest impact on our professional lives and, I dare say, the lives of all our families."
He concluded the tribute by thanking his longtime friend for everything he had done.
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"Thank you dear Terry, for everything. I hope you are inimitably chuckling away in some other dimension, playing bass and goofing off with your friends Phil and Don and all the other music greats who are no longer gracing us with their talent."
A Career That Extended Far Beyond A-ha
Long before helping launch A-ha, Slater had built an impressive career in the music business. During the 1960s, he performed and wrote songs with The Everly Brothers, earning songwriting credits on tracks including "Bowling Green," "Lord of the Manor" and "Up in Mabel's Room."
The Everly Brothers' official Facebook page remembered Slater as "a bass player, a writing partner and a lifelong friend," noting that Don and Phil Everly's parents affectionately referred to him as their "third son."
Slater later became an influential executive at EMI, where he worked with artists including Queen, Kate Bush, Duran Duran and the Sex Pistols before taking A-ha under his wing in the early 1980s.
Even after A-ha moved to new management in the late 1990s, Slater remained close to the band and was often described as an unofficial fourth member. He even appeared in the 2021 documentary A-ha: The Movie, according to the UK Metro.
The Ed Sullivan Show also paid tribute following the news, writing that Slater "left an unforgettable mark on the music industry" and that "his legacy lives on through the timeless songs and artists he championed."
His influence can still be heard every time fans press play on "Take On Me" and the many other classic recordings he helped bring to audiences around the world.
Related: Last Surviving Headliner of Legendary Rock Tour Turns 87
This story was originally published by Parade on Aug 2, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: "AOL Entertainment"
Source: Entertainment
Published: August 2, 2026 at 07:36AM on Source: MANUEL MAG
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