Baldassare "Barney" Ales, the charismatic sales chief who helped turn Motown Records into a music industry powerhouse as Berry Gordy's right-hand man, died of natural causes Friday in Malibu, Calif.
He was 85.Born in Detroit on May 13, 1934, Ales attended the city's Cooley High, where he met his future wife, Eileen "Mitzi" Cauley.
His career in music began at just 21 years old, when he joined the stockroom of Capitol Records' local branch, advancing over the next four years to posts in sales and promotion before joining Warner Bros.
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