While being married to former Epic Records CEO Antonio "L.A." Reid put Erica under the spotlight, the empowered woman is actually a boss lady in her own right. Here's everything you need to know about the music mogul's wife of 21 years.
L.A. Reid was married twice, first to Perri "Pebbles" Reid from 1989 to 1996, with whom he shares a son named Aaron. The second time's a charm for him, though, as he and his second wife Erica have been together for over two decades now.
Image of L.A. Reid and his wife Erica | Source: Getty Images
L.A. is a key figure in the music industry as a record producer, songwriter, and label executive. He's responsible for some of the biggest names in the industry and was the chairman of former Def Jam Music Group from 2004 to 2011, and president and CEO of Arista Records from 2000 to 2004.
HIS TOP ARTISTS
When he was the chairman and CEO of Epic Records from 2011 to 2017, his artists included Travis Scott, Camila Cabello, 21 Savage, DJ Khaled, Future, and Jennifer Hudson. Unfortunately, he was forced to step down as CEO following several sexual harassment accusations made against him.
Despite the allegations, he and his wife did not split up, and the pair remains married to this very day. After leaving Epic Records, he founded Hitco Entertainment, LLC with Charles Goldstuck, former Chairman and CEO of TouchTunes Interactive Networks.
MEETING HIS LONGTIME WIFE
While he's made a lot of impact on the music industry, his wife Erica's resume is just as impressive. She is a healthy living expert, a CEO, and a best-selling author. She's written two books that touch on food, environmental allergies for children, and healthy eating.
L.A. and Erica met when she was still a student at Clark Atlanta University. She was working as a hostess at a restaurant during her senior year at the time. She ended up being a school teacher before marrying L.A. and moving to New York.
HER BEST TRAITS
The pair share two children together, a daughter named Arianna and a son named Addison. While being a dedicated mom, she also has many other ventures such as writing and being the CEO of Nécessité, a shop for sustainable products.
On her shop's website, she sells second-hand fashion pieces and other sustainable products such as candles. The website also describes the woman as a person who loves to please other people.
MINGLING WITH A-LISTERS
Making people feel at home is her strong suit, and she's made the extraordinary happen while mingling with some of the world's biggest names, preparing meals and parties for Barack Obama, Jay Z, and Beyonce.
Whether she's at a pre-Grammy bash or at home cooking up a storm for some of the world's most influential people, she's always at the top of her game, making sure everything goes according to plan.
PASSION IN PARENTING
Despite being busy with their respective careers, the couple once opened up about raising their son Addison who had allergies and asthma. She wrote a book called "The Thriving Child," which was all about parenting while struggling with allergies.
L.A. and Erica once sat down with "Today" hosts to discuss parenting and how she found "passion" in it. During the interview, she promoted her book, which she said is a must-have for parents with children of any age.
A PROUD HUSBAND
During the interview, the music executive gushed over his wife, saying it was one of the proudest moments of his life to see her doing what she's doing. While they've been married for almost 12 years at the time of the interview, they were still absolutely smitten with one another.
L.A. sold off 100% of his publishing interests and writer's share of income of his entire 162-song catalog.
REMEMBERING THEIR WEDDING
When he proposed to his then-girlfriend he chose to do so in Italy's gorgeous Isle of Capri. They ended up going back there to plan their wedding, as it was an enchanting spot that meant a lot to both of them.
They welcomed guests to dinner inside a lemon grove, with waiters dressed in festive citrus colors. L.A. once shared that it was "really, really beautiful." The next day, their wedding ceremony took place at the Capri Palace Hotel at sunset.
A REFLECTION OF GOD
It was a gorgeous scene, and according to Erica, she wanted the ceremony to be a reflection of God. She asked everyone to wear white, and she herself wore a gorgeous Vera Wang gown while walking down the aisle as an Italian band played.
After the couple said "I do," 20 pounds of rose petals fell from the sky. They credit their wedding planner Colin Cowie for doing the most magical work for them.
LA and Erica Reid attend the LA Reid "Sing To Me" Pre-Grammy Brunch at Hinoki & The Bird on February 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images
SELLING HIS ROYALTIES
In 2020, it came as a surprise when L.A. sold off 100% of his publishing interests and writer's share of income of his entire 162-song catalog. The music mogul is the latest artist to sell the rights to his future royalties to Hipgnosis Song Fund, which purchased the catalog for an undisclosed amount.
After selling his catalog, he was appointed to the Hipgnosis Song Fund's advisory board. The fund was established by music veteran Merck Mercuriadis, who before becoming a full-time investor, once managed world-famous artists like Beyonce, Iron Maiden, Guns N' Roses, and Elton John.
INVESTING IN MUSIC
The Song Fund, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, allows investors to earn income from music royalties. Speaking about the move, he said he couldn't imagine a better home for his music and songs. L.A. added:
"Merck and his dream team truly value artists and their creative vision, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with them for this exciting new chapter.
L.A. was not the only one to make deals with Hipgnosis that year, as in January, Tom DeLonge sold his copyright to the band Blink-182's back catalog. Blondie's Debbie Harry and Chris Stein also sold their rights to the band's royalties in August.
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