Music Pioneer Vicki Wickham Dies at 87 After Illness in New York

Vicki Wickham, a key figure in 1960s British pop culture through her work on the ITV program Ready, Steady, Go! and as manager of Dusty Springfield and the group Labelle, died at age 87 in New York after an extended illness. As talent booker and later producer, she secured early TV appearances for icons like The Beatles, The Who, The Rolling Stones, and many others, and facilitated Motown’s first exposure to UK viewers.

She produced the landmark live broadcast featuring James Brown and later highlighted artists such as Ike and Tina Turner and Otis Redding. Relocating to New York in the 1970s, she guided Labelle’s glam-rock image and oversaw their hit “Lady Marmalade.” Her contributions earned her an OBE in 2013, presented by Prince Charles. She is survived by her wife, singer Nona Hendryx, and several relatives; memorials will be held in New York and London.