LOS ANGELES, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Ronnie F. Lippin, (59) who had an illustrious career as one of music's most beloved, respected and admired music publicists and managers passed away today (Dec. 4) at Cedars Sinai Medical Center from a rare form of breast cancer after a long battle with the disease. At her passing Ms. Lippin was president of the international entertainment marketing and public relations firm, The Lippin Group, of which her husband, Dick Lippin, is chairman and chief executive.
Ms. Lippin's career spanned over three decades during which she represented some of the most legendary and brilliant performers in rock 'n roll history including co-managing Brian Wilson and serving as public relations representative for Prince (for which Ad Age named her an Entertainment Marketer of the Year in 2005 for Prince's Musicology), Eric Clapton (28 years), Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), Steven Stills (Crosby, Stills and Nash), Peter Frampton, Michael McDonald (Doobie Brothers), Olivia Newton-John, Captain & Tennille, Cliff Richard and Fourplay, to name a few. Other major artists she worked with over the years included The Bee Gees, Elton John, Neil Sedaka, The Who, Dianne Reeves, James Taylor, Andy Gibb, and many more.

Ms. Lippin also represented the highly successful music division of Hallmark Cards, the Martin Guitar Company, NAMM (The International Music Products Association), MAP (Musician's Assistance Program) and the Battle of the Corporate Bands sponsored by the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame,

Ms. Lippin grew up in a middle class neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, went to Eramus High School graduating at 16 and entering Sarah Lawrence College on an academic scholarship. She then went to Paris to study at the Sorbonne. After college she answered an ad in a New York newspaper and got a job at Parents Magazine as a junior film critic. She entered the public relations industry in New York at Solters and Roskin working on film and stage projects including working on a film with the great Barbra Streisand.

After her marriage to Richard (Dick) Lippin the couple came to California, moved into a small apartment and were ready to begin their careers. Unfortunately a job Ms. Lippin was promised fell through but the turn of events led her down a career path that would change her professional life. She was hired by MCA Records to head up publicity. From there, Ronnie joined Elton John's new start up company Rocket Records and became head of publicity for RSO Records spearheading the diverse campaigns on each of these labels including The Who, Elton John, The Bee Gees and countless others. At RSO, she also supervised the public relations for the company's motion picture projects including "Saturday Night Fever", "Grease," and "Evita."

Ms. Lippin joined The Lippin Group (which was founded by her husband in 1986) in 1989 to head up the company's expanding client base in music artists, music tours, CD launches, music in films, on television and the Internet. In addition, she oversaw clients in music variety programming, music associations and musical instrument manufacturing.

Ms. Lippin was a giving person as well. She served on the board of Free Arts for Abused Children and with her husband endowed ethics programs at Penn State University and Brandeis University. The Lippins also send numerous underprivileged children to camp each summer and have supported many other children's and education projects.

Ms. Lippin is survived by her husband, Dick, and her daughter, Alexandra, who is a senior account executive at The Lippin Group. The Lippins are currently in the process of establishing a foundation in Ronnie Lippin's name for the study of rare forms of cancer. The family will be holding a private ceremony.