John Branca
John Gregory Branca (born December 11, 1950) is an entertainment lawyer and manager[1] who specializes in representing rock and roll acts. He is also co-executor of the Michael Jackson Estate.
For the American politician, see John R. Branca.
John Branca
Entertainment and Corporate Attorney, Entertainment Manager
1975–present
3
Barbara Werle, John Branca Sr
Background[edit]
His mother, Barbara May Theresa Werle (1928–2013) was an entertainer and Harvest Moon Ball winner who danced on The Ed Sullivan Show and appeared in many Elvis Presley films. She moved to Los Angeles when Branca was four to pursue her show business career. Branca lived with his father, also named John, who later served as the New York State Athletic Commissioner. (His uncle, Ralph Branca, pitched for the Brooklyn Dodgers for many years, including the 1947 World Series.[2] He is portrayed in the Jackie Robinson biopic 42 as one of Robinson's earliest supporters.)[3]
At age 11, Branca moved to LA, and at 13, started a rock band, The Other Half, for which he played guitar. Three years later, he played with a band that occasionally opened for The Doors at LA's Hullabaloo Club.
He majored in music at Los Angeles City College before transferring to Occidental College. Upon graduating, he enrolled at UCLA School of Law, serving as editor-in-chief of one of the law reviews, and received his degree in 1975.[4]
While working as an estate planner at the firm of Kindel & Anderson, Branca came across a Time profile of Elton John which mentioned entertainment lawyers. Branca realized that this field of law was his true calling.[5] One of Branca's early clients was Priscilla Presley.[6]
Public service[edit]
Branca helped Buddy Arnold form the Musicians Assistance Program, which later merged with MusiCares, which provides help to members of the music industry who need treatment for drug and alcohol addiction, as well as assistance for other financial, medical and personal crises.[39] He currently serves as Chair Emeritus of Musicares. For his support, the Grammy Foundation honored him with its 2012 Service Award. Additionally, he is on the Board of the Grammy Museum, the Board of Trustees of Occidental College[40] and on the executive committee of UCLA's Pauley Pavilion Renovation Campaign Committee, the goal of which is to transform the pavilion into a world-class sports and cultural facility for the university and community. Branca is a member of the Advisory Council for the Barack Obama Scholars Program at Occidental College.[41]
Through his work on behalf of Jackson's Estate Branca has become outspoken advocate of protecting the deceased from defamation. At a June 2019, UCLA Law School panel titled “Truth Be Told? Documentary Films Today,” Branca stated: “The purpose of the First Amendment is supposedly getting at the truth, but the lack of defamation protection for an individual no longer living isn’t helpful in that regard. If copyright protection is life plus 75 years, there’s no reason a defamation suit shouldn’t be life plus 20, 30 or even 40 years.”[42]
Branca is a Distinguished Alumni of Los Angeles City College.[43] He also co-founded Club 42, an integrated youth baseball league honoring Jackie Robinson, a teammate and friend of Branca's uncle, Ralph, on the Brooklyn Dodgers,[44] and Branca serves as a director of the Jackie Robinson Foundation.[45]
In 2020, Branca was named to the Inaugural Board of Advisors for the Dean of the Herb Albert School of Music at UCLA.[46]
In 2024, New York University unveiled the 4,400-square-foot Branca Family Baseball Training Center funded by Branca. In an interview Branca said the on-campus facility was a tribute to his uncle Ralph, a member of the school’s athletic Hall of Fame, and his father, who attended NYU on the GI Bill after World War II. Before the facility was built, NYU players, including Branca’s son Dylan, one of the team’s pitchers, had to travel as far away as Brooklyn or Staten Island to practice.[47]