Terry Tolkin

Terry Tolkin (September 10, 1959 – January 21, 2022) was an American music executive and music journalist.

In the 1980s, Tolkin worked for several record labels, including Touch & Go Records, Rough Trade Records, and his own No.6 Records. From 1992 to 1996, he was an A&R representative for Elektra Records, where he signed alternative groups such as Stereolab and Afghan Whigs.

Early career Tolkin grew up in Kansas and New York City.

Tolkin has been credited for coining the term "alternative music" in 1979 while writing for the trade publication Rockpool. He also worked at the 99 Records store in New York City and as a booker at New York clubs such as Danceteria and CBGB.

Record industry career Tolkin worked for several independent and major labels over the course of his career. While working for Touch & Go Records, he signed the Butthole Surfers and the Virgin Prunes. while Rolling Stone called The Bridge "one of the best conceived and executed" tribute albums of all time.

In the late 1980s, Tolkin worked as A&R for Rough Trade Records.

Tolkin was part of the A&R team at Elektra Records from 1992 to 1996. During his tenure with the label he signed Luna, Stereolab, Afghan Whigs, Scrawl, Vaganza, and others. Wareham wrote the Luna song "Chinatown" from the 1995 album Penthouse about Tolkin. That year, Wareham sold an EP of early demos from his band Luna, which Tolkin had signed to Elektra, on Bandcamp to help Tolkin pay medical bills.