Gil Friesen was an American film producer and music & film executive known for becoming chairman of A&M Records in 1977 to 1990 after he sold it for $500 million. He was the co-founder of the Classic Sports Cable Network and executive producer of The Breakfast Club (1985). Friesen joined the record industry soon after graduating school, starting in the mailroom at Capitol Records. Friesen eventually spent 27 years at A&M Records, 13 years of which he was the President and Partner. He was often referred to as the ampersand in A&M (The “A” standing for Herb Alpert and the “M” for Jerry Moss).