Nashville mourns music executive Joe Sullivan

Known for his humbleness, generosity, and for habitually running late, Joe Sullivan struck a chord in Nashville as a leader in the rock music community. He passed away in his Missouri home on June 25 at age 76. 

"He was very active in the Nashville community as a whole," said Jules Wortman, 53, Sullivan's niece. "He helped start a lot of people's careers in Nashville." 

Sullivan was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame in 2018 and served on the Country Music Association board of directors for 16 years. His company, Sound Seventy Productions, was instrumental in bringing rock acts to the Nashville music scene. 

Sullivan started his career in the radio business at age 16 as an afternoon DJ on WMSR in Manchester, TN. He was hired as a DJ in Knoxville in 1964, was named Program Director just a year later and quickly took the station to the number one spot in the market. 

He started Sound Seventy Productions in 1970 with Roger McDaniel. The company became a premier promoter of live entertainment through the 70's and 80's and included clients like Bobby Bare, Dickie Betts, Dobie Gray, Nicolette Larsen, Henry Paul, Wet Willie and Wolfman Jack. 

Sullivan and his wife moved to Branson, Missouri, in 1990, where he continued his career in live entertainment. 

Lindsey Sullivan, 66, calls her husband a humble and giving man. 

"He knew how to present an idea to someone so they would think it was their own," she said. "He didn't care if he got credit for it." 

Although he was generous with his time, he also struggled with managing it, according to Lindsey, who said her husband was known for being late. She remembers a time when they were rushing to meet friends, who had placed bets on when the couple would arrive. 

"Money changed hands when we showed up," she said. 

Sullivan served as an elder for his church, as well as various community boards. 

He is survived by his wife, Lindsey, and his children, Kim Ward, Joseph, Savannah and Jade Sullivan, his grandchildren Barry and Latisha, six great-grandchildren, and his sister, Nancy Wortman. Sullivan also had another daughter, Tracy Keller, who is deceased.