Barry Hankerson

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Barry Hankerson is an American record producer and manager; he also founded and runs Blackground Records.

Contents 1 Career 2 Personal life 3 Toni Braxton's lawsuit 4 References

[edit] Career

Hankerson was once a television producer and a politician in Detroit, Michigan.

He managed and produced The Winans and produced Ron Milner's play Don't Get God Started in 1988. An uncle of Aaliyah, he was her manager until her death; he also managed Toni Braxton, until a dispute over management of her recording career, and R.Kelly, whom he introduced to Aaliyah.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Personal life

At one time Hankerson was married to Gladys Knight.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Toni Braxton's lawsuit

On January 12, 2007, Toni Braxton filed a lawsuit in the U.S District Court in Manhattan against Hankerson for $10 million, alleging "fraud, deception and double dealing," in addition to mismanaging her relationship with Arista Records.^[1] According to Braxton, Hankerson placed his own personal financial interests ahead of hers by using "double-talk" to compromise the relationship between Braxton and her former recording label, Arista Records, with Hankerson allegedly telling Arista that "Braxton no longer wanted to record for Arista" and telling Braxton that "Arista was not interested in working with her anymore."^[1] Braxton also accused Hankerson of failing to send her on request copies of accounting statements, lying about deals that he made on her behalf and engaging in a vendetta against her by refusing to provide information to other managers that she sought to employ to manage her career.

The suit was settled with Braxton returning a $375,000 advance to Hankerson—who would also receive a percentage of the sales of her next album—and Hankerson releasing Braxton from her contract with him.^[2]

[edit] References