Died On This Date (March 30, 2013) Phil Ramone / Legendary Record Producer
themusicsover Phil Ramone
January 5, 1941 – March 30, 2013
Phil Ramone was a successful record producer who, over a career that spanned some five decades, was awarded 15 Grammys, one Emmy, and countless other accolades. A child prodigy born in South Africa, Ramone, was playing the violin at age three, and performing for Queen Elizabeth II before he hit his teens. During the ’40s, he moved to the United States where he attended The Julliard School before becoming a U.S. citizen in 1953. In 1959, Ramone opened his own studio, A & R Recording and quickly built a name for himself due to his use of the latest technologies. Artists he went to produce landmark albums with include Rod Stewart, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Quincy Jones, Chicago and Barbra Streisand. And albums he produced for Ray Charles, Billy Joel, and Paul Simon each went on to earn Album Of The Year awards at the Grammys. Ramone also recorded Marilyn Monroe‘s notorious rendition of “Happy Birthday To You” to President John F. Kennedy. He was also considered one of the industry’s top innovators. In 1982, his digitally recorded version of Billy Joel’s 52nd Street became the first album to be released on compact disc in Japan. He was also largely responsible for Surround Sound for movies. Phil Ramone was 72 when he passed away on March 30, 2013. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Thanks to Paul Bearer for the assist.
Robert Zildjian was the founder of Sabian Cymbal Company, one of music’s most popular brands. Born into the family that began making cymbals in Istanbul in 1633, Zildian went into the family business at a very young age. At almost 400 years old, the Avedis Zildjian Company is one of the oldest companies in the world. In 1929, the business moved to America, and in 1981 – after a family dispute – Robert broke away and formed the Sabian Cymbal Company. The two cymbal makers have coexisted yet remained rivals ever since. Sabian Cymbals have been used by many of the greatest drummers in rock history. Robert Zildian died of cancer on March 28, 2013. He was 89.
Paul Williams was the founder of Crawdaddy!, considered by many to be America’s first national magazine devoted to rock music. Launched while he was in college in 1966, the magazine first consisted of mimeographed pages written entirely by Williams himself. Landing before by Rolling Stone and Creem, Crawdaddy called itself, “the first magazine to take rock and roll seriously,” making Williams a pioneer of rock journalism. He left the magazine in 1968, but took it back over in 1993. It ultimately closed shop in 2003. Through a time before the internet and MTV, the pages of a handful of magazines like Crawdaddy! was where music lovers went to learn the goings-on of their favorite rock bands and musicians. Throughout his career, Williams also penned more than 25 books including the widely acclaimed Bob Dylan: Performing Artist, a three book series. He was considered to be an expert on the works of Dylan, Neil Young, and Brian Wilson. In 1995, Williams suffered a severe brain injury during a bicycle mishap. It is believed that that injury lead to his dementia and ultimately his death on March 27, 2013. Paul Williams was 64 when he passed away.
Roosevelt Jamison was songwriter, artist manager and publicist whose most notable contribution to popular music was the soulful gem he wrote, “That’s How Strong My Love Is.” First recorded by O.V. Wright in 1964, the song had a remarkable life, which found its way on to records by