With heavy hearts, we regret to inform you that Phil Ramone has passed away at the age of 72. Our condolences go out to Mr. Ramone's family, friends and all the artists that he was associated with. According to Billboard, Ramone had been hospitalized in late February with an aeortic aneurysm and died at New York Presbyterian Hospital earlier today.
Mr. Ramone, also known as "the Pope of Pop", worked with some of music's finest artists like Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Ray Charles and Billy Joel.
Ramone was born in South Africa in 1941 and he began playing the violin and piano when he was three years old. He came to New York City as a teenager to study violin at the Juliard School, but soon developed an interest and talent in the technical details of recording. He began working as a songwriter at the Brill Building, which brought him into contact with music-industry legends like Quincy Jones, Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller, and in 1959 he launched the A&R Recording studios.
"Our industry has lost an immense talent and a true visionary and genius," Neil Portnow, president of the Recording Academy, said in a statement. "Everyone who encountered Phil came away a better person for it, professionally and personally."
Ramone was nominated for 33 Grammy awards, winning 14 awards and a technical Grammy for a lifetime of innovative contributions to the recording industry. What a career!
1965 – Best Engineered Recording (non classical), for Getz/Gilberto
1970 – Best Musical Show Album for producing Promises, Promises
1976 – Album of the Year for producing Still Crazy After All These Years
1979 – Record of the Year for producing "Just the Way You Are"
1980 – Album of the Year for producing 52nd Street
1981 – Producer of the Year (non classical)
1984 – Best Album Of Original Score Written For A Motion Picture Or A Television Special, for Flashdance
1995 – Best Musical Show Album for producing Passion
2003 – Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, for producing "Playin' With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues"
2005 – Album of the Year and Best Surround Sound Album for producing Genius Loves Company
2006 – Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for producing The Art of Romance
2007 – Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for producing Duets: An American Classic
2012 – Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for producing Duets II
He also won an Emmy Award in 1973 as sound mixer for "Duke Ellington...We Love You Madly", a tribute to Duke Ellington broadcast on CBS.
Rock in peace, Mr. Ramone! You will be missed!
Related links:
Phil Ramone's official site
No comments:
Post a Comment