Phil Ramone
Phil Ramone | |
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Website | philramone.com (last version, archived at the Internet Archive) |
Philip Rabinowitz (January 5, 1934[1] – March 30, 2013), better known as Phil Ramone, was a South African-born American recording engineer, record producer, violinist and composer,[2] who in 1958 co-founded A & R Recording, Inc., a recording studio with business partner Jack Arnold at 112 West 48th Street, New York, upstairs from the famous musicians' watering hole, Jim & Andy's, and several doors east of Manny's Music. The success of the original A & R Recording allowed it to expand into several studios and a record production company. He was described by Billboard as "legendary",[3] and the BBC as a "CD pioneer".[4]
Early life
Ramone was born in South Africa and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. As a child in South Africa, Ramone was a
Professional career
A & R Recording
In 1959, Ramone established an independent recording studio
In the studio he quickly gained a reputation as a good sound engineer and music producer, in particular for his use of innovative technology. Among the performers whose music Ramone produced are
In 1972, management of A & R included Robert Gerics (general manager and studio manager), Nick Diminno (studio manager), and Irving Joel (chief engineer). The studios were located at 799 7th Avenue and 322 West 48th Street.[9]
Ramone's early work in producing and engineering was with jazz artists, working on
Technical innovations
Ramone was a founding member of META (the Music & Engineering Technology Alliance).[11]
October 1, 2023, marked the forty-first anniversary of the world's first commercially marketed compact disc. On that date in 1982, CBS/Sony released a digital compact disc of Billy Joel's 52nd Street in Japan, alongside Sony's CD player CDP-101.[12]
Ramone introduced optical surround sound for movies.[13] His book, Making Records: The Scenes Behind the Music, written with Chuck Granata, was released on October 9, 2007. Also in October 2007, Ramone produced a limited engagement performance of Richard Vetere's Be My Love: The Mario Lanza Story.[14] The play was directed by Charles Messina and co-produced by Sonny Grosso. It premiered at The Tilles Center in Greenvale, New York.[15]
Other professional activities
In addition to producing music, Ramone had numerous concert, film, Broadway and television productions to his credit that include
Later work
On July 8, 2008, Columbia Records released The Stranger 30th Anniversary, which features interviews with Ramone. This box set includes a remastered version of the 1977 Billy Joel album The Stranger by Ramone.[16] The following summer, Ramone produced Gershwin Across America, a tribute album to the music of George and Ira Gershwin. The album features Jewel, Jason Mraz, Darius Rucker, and Paul Simon.[17] In 2011, Ramone worked with George Michael, during his 2011 Symphonica Tour.[2] Also in 2011, Ramone produced the songs "You Were Meant for Me" and "I'm Coming Back" on Lalah Hathaway's album Where It All Begins. One of Ramone's final projects was as the producer of the rock band Chicago's 2011 holiday album, Chicago XXXIII: O Christmas Three.
Personal life
Ramone was married to Karen Ichiuji-Ramone, with whom he had one son.[13] Ramone had two sons from a prior marriage.
Death
Ramone was hospitalized in late February 2013 with an aortic aneurysm,[11][18][19] and died on March 30, 2013, from complications involving the surgery related to it, at New York Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan. He was aged 79.[5]
Awards
- Grammys
Ramone was nominated for 34
- 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
- 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: BennettSings The Blues"
- 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
- Other awards
- Ramone also won an Emmy Award in 1973 as the sound mixer for "Duke Ellington...We Love You Madly", a tribute to Duke Ellington broadcast on CBS.[4]
- 1997 – American Eagle Award, National Music Council
- Ramone was awarded a Fellowship by the Audio Engineering Society in 2007.[22]
- Honorary degrees and collegiate appointments
Ramone was awarded honorary degrees by:
Ramone was a member of Berklee's board of trustees.
References
- ^ a b Gallo, Phil. "Producer Phil Ramone dead at 79". Billboard.com. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
- ^ a b c d e "Biography: Phil Ramone". philramone.com. Archived from the original on 18 March 2013.
- ^ Barnes, Mike (March 30, 2013). "Legendary Producer Phil Ramone Dies at Age 79". Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
- ^ a b "US music producer and CD pioneer Phil Ramone dies". BBC News. March 30, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
- ^ a b "Phil Ramone, pioneering music producer and engineer, dies aged 72". guardian.co.uk. March 30, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
- ^ |U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Petition No. 625266, Admission No. 7198731
- ^ Eskow, Gary (June 1, 2005). "Classic Tracks: Janis Ian's "At Seventeen"". Mix. Archived from the original on May 5, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
- ^ Davies, Bren (15 November 2005). "Interviews—Phil Ramone". Tape Op Magazine (50). Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ "1972 International Directory of Recording Studios", Billboard, June 10, 1972, pg. RS 38
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Phil Ramone". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
- ^ a b "Legendary Producer Phil Ramone Dies at Age 79". Billboard. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
- ^ "Sony History: A Great Invention 100 Years On". Sony. Archived from the original on August 2, 2008. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
- ^ a b Barker, Andrew (March 30, 2013). "Phil Ramone, Pioneering Music Engineer and Producer, Dies at 72". Variety. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
- ^ "Phil Ramone Project". Frost School of Music. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
- ^ "Richard Vetere Collection". Stony Brook University Special Collections & University Archives. Archived from the original on June 3, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
- ^ "Billy Joel The Stranger: 30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Review". BBC Music. July 14, 2008. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
- ^ Mergner, Lee (August 25, 2010). "All-star lineup performs Gershwin across America at Hollywood Bowl". Jazz Times. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
- ^ Martinez, Michael (March 30, 2013). "Music producer and innovator Phil Ramone dead at age 72". CNN. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
- ^ "Legendary record producer Phil Ramone in 'critical care'". NME. March 1, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
- ^ "Past winners search". Grammy.com. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
- ^ "Technical GRAMMY award". 2010-10-19. Archived from the original on 2014-10-26. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
- ^ "AES Historical Web Store: Oral History Project: Phil Ramone (101)". Audio Engineering Society. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
Further reading
- Ramone, Phil; Granata, Charles L., Making records: the scenes behind the music, New York : Hyperion, 2007. ISBN 978-0-7868-6859-9
External links
- "Phil Ramone online". Archived from the original on 2014-11-06. Retrieved 2004-11-18.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - Phil Ramone at IMDb
- Phil Ramone myspace
- JazzWax (5-part interview series)
- Phil Ramone Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection (1997)