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Archive for the ‘Producer’ Category

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RIP, Barbara Orbison (December 6, 2011) Widow Of Roy Orbison

Posted by themusicsover on December 6, 2011

Barbara Orbison (Born Barbara Jakobs)
1951 – December 6, 2011

Barbara Orbison is best remembered as the longtime wife of rock ‘n roll pioneer, Roy Orbison.  She was also a successful entrepreneur, producer and music publisher.  Born in Germany, Barbara Jakobs was just 17 when on July 21, 1968, she met her future husband when he was on tour in Leeds, England.  Although Roy was nearly twice her age, the pair married the following year.  The couple raised three sons and stayed together until Roy passed away in 1988.   During the ’80s, Barbara managed Roy’s career and was instrumental in the revival of his career, serving as Executive Producer for the popular television concert special, Roy Orbison and Friends: A Black and White Night, which featured among others,  Bruce Springsteen, k.d. lang, Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, and Jackson Browne performing alongside Roy.  After Roy died, Barbara took over his business dealings and successfully kept his music and image alive for generations to come.   Barbara also owned Still Working Music, a publishing company in Nashville, and was very active in philanthropic causes.  Barbara Orbison was 60 when she passed away on December 6, 2011 – 23 years to the day after Roy passed away.  Cause of death was attributed to cancer.



Posted in Manager, Producer, Publishing | Tagged: , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

RIP, Philip “Fatis” Burrell (December 3, 2011) Prolific Jamaican Record Producer

Posted by themusicsover on December 3, 2011

Philip “Fatis” Burell
July 23, 1954 – December 3, 3011

Philip “Fatis” Burrell was a well-respected reggae producer, artist manager, and owner of the influential label, Xterminator Records.  By most accounts, he was one of the most successful producers of the modern reggae era.  Burrell’s first credit was likely as producer of Sugar Minott’s “More Dogs To The Bone” in 1984.  Around that time, he also started his first label, Kings & Lions.  A couple of years later, Burrell launched Vena Records where he helped launch the careers of Sanchez and Pinchers.  He also released records by such established greats as Gregory Isaacs and Frankie Paul on Vena.  Over the course of his career, Burrell also worked with – either as their label head, producer, or manager -  Luciano, Sizzla, Cocoa Tea, Ras Shiloh, and Everton Blender, to name a few.   On December 3, 2011, Philip “Fatis” Burrell passed away from complications of a mild stroke he suffered two weeks earlier.  He was 57.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.



Posted in Manager, Producer, Record Label, Reggae | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

RIP, Mike Smith (December 3, 2011) Famously Turned Down The Beatles

Posted by themusicsover on December 3, 2011

Mike Smith
April 30, 1935 – December 3, 2011

Mike Smith was an English record producer who, although he was responsible for many hit records, will always be remembered as the guy who passed on the Beatles.  Born into a musical family, Smith’s first job in music came by way of the BBC where he worked as a recording engineer.  Following his stint there, Smith landed at Decca Records, at first working as an assistant on recordings by the likes of Mantovani and Edmundo Ros.  Before he knew it, he was elevated to producer at the label.  He went on to produce hits by the likes of the Tremeloes, Georgie Fame, and Brian Poole.  But is was what he did on New Years Day, 1962 that unfortunately for him, will go down as one of pop music’s biggest blunders.  About two weeks earlier, Smith caught one of the Beatles’ legendary Cavern Club performances and invited them to audition for Decca.  The band came in on January 1st and performed 15 songs for label management who were clearly not as impressed as Smith had been, so he decided to sign another recent audition, the Tremeloes, instead.  That decision would haunt him for the rest of his life.  Either way, Smith still had a very admirable track record with acts he DID work with over the years.  He later worked for GTO Records.  Mike Smith was 76 when he passed away on December 3, 2011.

Thanks Paul Bearer for the assist.

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RIP, Don DeVito (November 25, 2011) Longtime Columbia Records Executive & Bob Dylan Producer

Posted by themusicsover on November 25, 2011

Don DeVito
September 6, 1939 – November 25, 2011

Getting a shave from Johnny Cash

Don DeVito was a respected producer and label executive who, over a career that spanned five decades, produced landmark albums by Bob Dylan and played a key role in the successes of Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Johnny Cash, Aerosmith, and Simon & Garfunkel, to name a few. After an early career as a musician – he played guitar for Al Kooper – DeVito went to work for CBS Records as part of their Executive Training Program.  The year was 1967, and by 1971, he was running the marketing department of what had recently been re-named Columbia Records.  He later moved over to A&R where he worked more closely with Columbia’s jaw-dropping stable of artists.  In the studio, DeVito produced Dylan’s Desire and Street Legal, among others.   He was nominated for five separate Grammys, winning in 1989 for Folkways: A Vision Shared – A Tribute to Woody Guthrie & Leadbelly.  After the 9/11 attacks on New York City, DeVito was instrumental to the success of The Concert For New York City which raised over $1 million dollars for the victims and their families.  On November 25, 2011, Don DeVito passed away following a long battle with prostate cancer.  He was 72.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.

Posted in Musician, Producer, Record Label | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

RIP, Joe Gracey (November 17, 2011) Austin Radio Legend

Posted by themusicsover on November 17, 2011

Joe Gracey
DOB Unknown – November 17, 2011

Joe Gracey was an Austin, Texas radio disc jockey who, since the early ’70s, championed what was then called progressive country on KOKE-FM.  Also referred to as alt country, Americana, outlaw country, redneck rock, or simply Texas music, this hybrid of country, blues, rock, and folk found its home outside the mainstream.  And it was Gracey who helped make many of its practitioners – like Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kinky Friedman, Townes Van Zandt, Asleep at the Wheel, and Jerry Jeff Walker, household names throughout Texas and beyond.  After being named “Radio Trendsetter of the Year” by Billboard magazine in 1974, Gracey helped launch the popular music program Austin City Limits and was the show’s first talent coordinator.  He later opened his own recording studio where he recorded Stevie Ray Vaughan.  In 1978, he married fellow Texas musician, Kimmie Rhodes for whom he also played and recorded.  Other artists with which he collaborated were Willie Nelson, Ray Price, and Calvin Russell, to name a few.  Joe Gracey died of cancer on November 17, 2011.  He was 61.

Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.



Posted in Americana, Disc Jockey, Musician, Producer, Radio | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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