Ex-Motown chief Busby dies at 59

Jheryl Busby signed Diana Ross back to Motown in 1989

Former president and chief executive of Motown Records Jheryl Busby, who helped develop the careers of Boyz II Men and Johnny Gill, has died, aged 59.

Mr Busby was found in a hot tub at his home in Malibu early on Tuesday morning, said Los Angeles County Assistant Coroner Chief Ed Winter.

"It was a possible accident or he died of natural causes," Mr Winter said.

As Motown's chief for seven years from 1988, Mr Busby oversaw stars including Smokey Robinson and Stevie Wonder.

Robinson, one of Motown's most prolific songwriters and artists during the record label's 1960s heyday, said he was saddened by Mr Busby's death.

"I had tremendous respect for the way he continued the Motown legacy," he said.

After his time at Motown, Mr Busby was the head of the urban division at DreamWorks Records between 1998 and 2001.

He later worked at Def Soul Classics, a division of Def Jam Records.

Mr Busby also was a major shareholder in the first black-owned national bank in the US - the Founders National Bank of Los Angeles - along with Magic Johnson and Janet Jackson.