Jeremy Tepper was a music executive and program director who headed SiriusXM’s Outlaw Country channel and was a major proponent of Americana and alt-country music.
- Died: June 14, 2024 (Who else died on June 14?)
- Details of death: Died of a heart attack at the age of 60.
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Jeremy Tepper’s legacy
Jeremy Tepper was best known as a big advocate for Americana, alt-country, and outlaw country music, but he wasn’t just a fan. He also directly contributed to the artistry, fronting the World Famous Blue Jays in the 1980s before founding Diesel Only Records in 1990. Tepper continued to perform on stage throughout his career. Over the years, his label released albums by Amy Allison, Ween, Will Rigby, Tammy Faye Starlite, and other acts.
A graduate of New York University, Tepper was editor of the Journal of Country Music and country music critic for Pulse! magazine, though he is perhaps best known for his website, Outlaw Country, and the long tenure at SiriusXM that resulted from it. He became the service’s format manager for the Outlaw Country channel in 2004, a position he held for two decades. As mainstream country music transitioned to a more radio-friendly format, Tepper made a name for himself by promoting the kind of raw, back-to-basics artists popular country music was leaving behind, keeping alive a corner of the genre that had been waning in popularity.
In addition to his work on radio and as a music journalist, Tepper was also an organizer of the annual days-long Outlaw Country Cruise. His wife was alt-country artist and radio presence Laura Cantrell, and they had one daughter.
Tributes to Jeremy Tepper
Full obituary: The New York Times
