Timothy White, 50, the influential editor in chief of the music trade publication Billboard, died in New York after suffering an apparent heart attack Thursday.

Mr. White was a veteran music journalist who spent several years at Rolling Stone magazine. He wrote an acclaimed biography of reggae singer Bob Marley and had a syndicated radio series.

Mr. White got his start as a reporter for the Associated Press.

Anthony DeCurtis, a contributing editor at Rolling Stone, said Mr. White redefined Billboard during his 11 years as its editor by implementing colorful writing and accurate chart data.

Mr. White's column, "Music to My Ears," which spotlighted issues and artists he felt were important, was a must-read in the industry. The weekly column featured a portrait of Mr. White in his trademark bow tie.

Mr. White wrote several books, including 1998's Catch a Fire: The Life of Bob Marley and last year's James Taylor: Long Ago and Far Away. In addition, he was host of ABC radio's The Timothy White Sessions.

He was the senior editor at Rolling Stone from 1979 to 1982 and the senior editor of the rock magazine Crawdaddy from 1977 to 1978.

Helen Perrell, 97, who was known as the oldest U.S. Marine in Hong Kong, died in that city this week after surgery, U.S. consulate spokesman David E. Miller said.

Ms. Perrell, a native of Philadelphia and a 1925 graduate of Cornell University, was commissioned as a Marine in 1943 - a rare accomplishment at the time for a woman. She retired several years later as a major, Mr. Miller said.