Nashville Memorial Service For Steve Popovich Announced

Photo Credit: Anastasia Pantsios

Nashville Memorial Service For Steve Popovich Announced

Nashville, Tennessee (June 21, 2011) -- A memorial service for Steve Popovich will be held from 6 - 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 30 at United Methodist Fellowship Church (2511 Highway 99,  Murfreesboro); a reception follows at the Church from 7 - 9 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Stephen C. Popovich Memorial Fund, U.S. Bank, 2504 Old Fort Parkway, Murfreesboro, TN 37128. All funds donated will benefit the various charities that Steve has contributed to throughout his life.

The engaging and unconventional industry legend championed such disparate talents as Michael Jackson, Boston, Johnny Cash, David Allan Coe and polka king Frank Yankovic during a multi-decade career that began in 1962.  From unloading trucks at a Columbia Records' warehouse, young Popovich's  "foot-in-the-door" mentality would, at  26, see him rise to the position of Vice President of Promotion for the label; a feat that is well-remembered by his "Sony cronies."  In 1976, after helping break Bruce Springsteen worldwide, he left Columbia and formed Cleveland International Records. He discovered Meat Loaf and released the BAT OUT OF HELL album, which has gone on to become one of the Top 5 selling albums in the history of the music business.  Steve worked his way into Music City hearts while at the helm of PolyGram Records Nashville in the late 1980s, working with Kris Kristofferson, The Statler Brothers, Tom T. Hall, Kathy Mattea, Lynn Anderson, Tom Jones, Johnny Paycheck and others.  Steve Popovich (born July 6, 1942 in Nemacolin, PA) leaves behind a son, Steve Popovich Jr., a daughter, Pamela Popovich, a sister, Barb Lemmo, and two grandchildren, Tanner and Stephen Popovich.

Funeral services were held June 13 at St. John of the Cross in Euclid, Ohio; interment followed at Western Reserve Memorial Gardens in Chesterland.  Popovich died at his home in Murfreesboro, TN on June 8 at age 68.

Condolences may be sent to the family via email: spopovich34@earthlink.net .