Obituaries

Adolph "AD" Washington

Photo of Adolph "AD" Washington
Adolph Washington ("A.D.") as he was affectionately called by both family and friends, had more than 30 years of experience in the music industry. A.D.'s musical brilliance allowed him to move quickly from local management to senior management positions at Universal Music Group ("MCA"), Warner Brothers Records and Capitol Records. A.D. was born in Scott, Ark., on July 10, 1940, to William and Ida Bell Wayne Ferguson. He attended elementary school in Scott and graduated from St. Bartholomew High School in Little Rock. A.D. earned a Bachelor's Degree from Arkansas AM&N College (University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff) and did further studies at the University of Central Arkansas. A.D.'s career in the music industry began at Stax Records as a local Promotion Manager. After a short time at Stax, he joined MCA Records as the Southwest Regional Manager, where he excelled to the ranks of Senior Manager. As Senior Vice President of MCA Records, A.D. led his staff to unprecedented success, and ushered in the "New Jack Swing" era of popular music, which became the forerunner for today's Hip Hop explosion. While serving as Senior Vice President at MCA, A.D.'s work with New Edition, Teddy Riley, Patti LaBelle, Bobby Brown, Mary J. Blige, Gladys Knight & The Pips, Jody Watley, Guy, Jodeci, Heavy D, & the Boyz, Stephanie Mills, and Bell Biv & Devoe, became the standard that every other label in the industry tried to match. In addition, he developed promotional and marketing campaigns for multi-platinum movie soundtracks such as "Beverly Hills Cops", "Dangerous Minds", "Juice","Ghostbusters II", and "Tales from the Hood". A.D. and his staff earned multiple recognitions at industry ceremonies, providing the platform for many of his staffers to move on to senior management positions in the industry. He has received numerous awards over his career for his leadership. A.D.'s management style and his vision kept him a key player in the music business. As a giant in the industry, several executives said he was one of the most diligent, loyal, and hardest workers in the music business. A.D.'s word was his bond and if he said it, "you could take it to the bank." After his retirement, A.D. operated his own entertainment consulting company, A.D. Barak Corporation, which continues to have an impact on today's music landscape. A.D. was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, the NAACP, Young Black Programmers Coalition and the Living Legends Foundation. He is preceded by his wife, Elese Jackson Washington; mother, Ida Belle Wayne Ferguson; sister, Shirley Dean Ferguson Jordan,and brother, Cornelius "Neal" Ferguson. A.D. is survived by his father, William Ferguson Sr., of Scott, Ark.; son, Kevin Jones of Little Rock, Ark.; sisters, Ermagene "Erma" Ferguson of Little Rock, Ark., and Classie Ferguson of Pasadena, Calif.; brother, William Ferguson Jr., of Los Angeles, Calif.; granddaughter, Charlee Elese Jones of Little Rock, Ark.; goddaughter, Javonne Stewart Jordan of Little Rock Ark.; extended family members, Earnestine, William, and Charles Wayne of Little Rock, Ark., Adam D. Wayne of Los Angeles, Calif., and Margaret "Ann" Evans of Rialto, Calif.; many friends and loved ones. Viewing will be Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, 3-5 p.m. at Ruffin & Jarrett Funeral Home, 1200 Chester St., Little Rock, Ark., (501) 372-1305, and Monday, Dec. 4, 2017, noon-1 p.m. at Allison Presbyterian Church, 922 Wright Ave., Little Rock, Ark. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. at the church.

Published December 3, 2017

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