Longtime Beatles group and solo-era aide Terry Doran has died at the age of 83 of an undisclosed illness. Doran, was one of the few of the band's inner-circle to never betray their confidence by writing a tell-all, appear at a fan convention, or talk about them endlessly on low budget documentaries.
He came into the “Fab Four's” circle via his friendship with their manager Brian Epstein, with whom he was partnered in a car company, named Brydor Cars, which was the primary dealer to many of the wealthiest pop starts in London — including the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Although long rumored to be the “man from the motor trade,” in later years Paul McCartney denied that Doran was the inspiration. John Lennon revealed that Doran contributed one word to 1967's “A Day In The Life” offering up the single word “fill” when he and McCartney were seeking a verb for the holes in Albert Hall.
Doran briefly managed Apple Records artist Mary Hopkin and Grapefruit — the first band to be signed to the Beatles' Apple Publishing. Doran eventually headed up the Apple Music publishing department, and was particularly close to John Lennon and George Harrison. Doran also was the link that brought Peter Frampton into Harrison's 1970 All Things Must Pass sessions. Doran went on to work for Harrison, serving as the estate manager of his Friar Park English estate, as well as working promotion for Splinter, the Harrison-produced Dark Horse Records act.
Pattie Boyd posted a tribute to Doran on her Facebook page, which read: “So saddened to hear of the passing of Terry Doran. Terry was a major part of my life at Friar Park and he was also very close to George. I particularly remember how much Terry loved the grounds and garden and spent hours working there. RIP Terry”
Beatles historian and author Mark Lewisohn posted: “RIP Terry Doran, age 80 (sic). Not only the 'man from the motor trade' in 'She’s Leaving Home,' also a Scouse pal of Brian Epstein (manager of their Brydor Cars business), mate to all the Beatles, a laugh, joint-roller and merry tripper, ran Apple Music and was George’s PA at Friar Park.”
Ken Mansfield, the former U.S. manager of Apple Records, recently published his third book on his time with the Beatles called The Roof. Mansfield says that it was a testament to the Beatles that they ended up with such a loyal staff: “I felt so honored to be invited inside their world and privileged, that a bunch of us had agreed that we would never write about our time with the Beatles. It's not because the Beatles said, 'Lookit, you're gonna be inside, you're gonna see some stuff, you're gonna know some stuff, we wanna be free to do. . . So you're gonna have to agree not to write or talk about it.' It was just some thing, we felt so privileged, we had so much respect. I have to tell you man, they treated me so good and so kind.”