As a veteran of the music and entertainment industry, David Nathan has helped shape the careers of A-list artists including Taylor Swift, Amy Winehouse and Ariana Grande.
But behind that success, he faced a loss he never could have imagined. His son took what he believed was a Percocet, unaware it was laced with fentanyl, and died at just 19.
Now, Nathan is focused on his most personal work yet: helping others navigate mental health challenges in his son’s honor.
What makes that mission even more meaningful is that it began with his son. Before his death, he founded an apparel company called Happy Jack, donating a portion of proceeds to support children facing mental health struggles.
In this episode of Grieving Out Loud, Nathan shares his son’s story, what he hopes other parents can learn, and how he’s carrying forward a mission rooted in love, loss and purpose.
Watch The Risks are Real live assembly here.
Related episodes:
- Promising young entrepreneur dies after taking counterfeit Percocet
- The Voice You Knew — The Story You Didn’t
- When Men Don’t Cry: Confronting the Culture of Silent Grief
MEET THE GUEST
David Nathan
David Nathan is an acclaimed music executive whose career has spanned some of the most influential labels in the industry, including Columbia Records, Island Records, Republic Records, and Big Machine Records. After losing his son Jack to fentanyl poisoning at just 19, David founded Happy Jack Records in his honor, a label dedicated to fulfilling Jack’s dream of providing artists with mental health support. Through his work and his son’s legacy, David is turning one of the most devastating losses imaginable into a mission rooted in love and purpose.
