| Birth Place: | The Bronx, New York, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Santa Barbara, California, U.S. |
| Children: | Lloyd Braun |
David Braun (died January 28, 2013) was an American entertainment lawyer who was considered "one of the most powerful lawyers in the music industry during its heyday" by Variety.[1] He represented famous artists such as Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, George Harrison and Michael Jackson, and served as president of Polygram Records.[2]
Braun was born in The Bronx as an only child.[3] He graduated from Columbia College and Columbia Law School, obtaining a joint B.A. and J.D. degree in 1954. After law school, he joined the firm Pryor, Braun, Cashman & Sherman, where he represented writers, performers, producers and advertising agencies.[4]
Early in his career, he was introduced to Bob Dylan, and eventually came to represent musicians such as Neil Diamond, George Harrison, Michael Jackson, The Band, Peter, Paul & Mary and Judy Collins.[5] He became a close friend of Neil Diamond, who called him "one of the great figures in [his] life" during a 2008 awards ceremony hosted by the Grammy Foundation.
He joined the firm Hardee, Barovick, Konecky & Braun in the 1970s and moved his practice from New York City to Beverly Hills, California, where he trained many of the music industry's most prominent attorneys.[6] [7] [8] He was also involved in the founding of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[9]
In 1981, he left law to become president and CEO of Polygram Records, and returned to law practice two years later. In 1990, he joined Proskauer Rose as special counsel.[10]
Braun died on January 28, 2013, at his home in Santa Barbara, California.[11] His son is Lloyd Braun, former chairman of ABC Entertainment and founder of Whalerock Industries.