Los Angeles  - The prominent US record label executive Allen Klein, who had the Beatles and the Rolling Stones under contract during his career, died Saturday in New York, an online magazine reported.

Klein, who was 77, suffered from Alzheimer's, Entertainment Weekly reported.

Successful but also controversial for his business strategies, Klein made his first marks in the 1960s, helping singer Sam Cooke get a lucrative record contract.

As head of the ABKCO record label, Klein worked closely with the Stones, but split with them over the rights to hits such as "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and "Jumpin' Jack Flash."

Klein worked with the Beatles in 1970 as they struggled financially, during the months before their break-up. The contract with Klein led to tensions between Paul McCartney, who had wanted someone else to manage them, and the other band members John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. The tension was blamed for their break-up. (dpa)