Phil Ramone, the producer of some of the greatest albums of the 20th Century, has died in New York after being admitted to a Manhattan hospital for surgery.
Phil Ramone
Ramone’s production credits include Barbra Streisand ‘A Star Is Born’, Billy Joel ‘Glass Houses’, ‘The Bridge’ and ‘52nd Street’, Paul Simon ‘There Goes Rhymin’ Simon’ and ‘One Trick Pony’ and Paul McCartney ‘Press To Play’ and ‘Flowers In The Dirt’ and albums for Frank Sinatra, Chicago, Natalie Cole, Tony Bennet, Neil Diamond, Julio Iglesias, Elton John, Michael Bolton, Liza Minelli, James Taylor and Van Morrison.
Phil Ramone was a child prodigy. He was playing violin at age 3 and at 10 performed for Queen Elizabeth II.
His work on Billy Joel’s ‘The Stranger’ gave Joel his first major success. Ramone earned himself a Grammy Award for his production of ‘Just The Way You Are’. He went on to win 10 Grammy Awards.
As a songwriter Phil Ramone co-wrote the song ‘Imagination’ from the Flashdance soundtrack.
Phil Ramone was 72-years old. His son Matt, in announcing the death of his father said Phil was “very loving and will be missed”.
Ramone produced Paul McCartney’s ‘Press To Play’ and ‘Flowers In The Dirt’ albums. In a statement Paul McCartney said, “Phil was a great friend of mine for many years. We first worked together when I recorded ‘Another Day’ in New York at A & R Studios. He was a very sweet man who combined this with expert knowledge of both engineering and production. I’ll always remember him as a great friend that I knew, loved and admired over the many years that we worked and played together.”
Music legend Engelbert Humperdinck said, “I am EXTREMELY saddened to hear of the death of Phil Ramone. Phil was an amazingly talented man and one of the nicest men I have met. My sincere condolences to his entire family. RIP- My Friend”.
Billy Joel said in a statement “I always thought of Phil Ramone as the most talented guy in my band. So much of my music was shaped by him and brought to fruition by him. I have lost a dear friend – and my greatest mentor.”
UPDATE: Phil Spector died from a brain aneurism
Ramone’s 14 Grammy Awards:
1965 – Best Engineered Recording (non classical) – Getz/Gilberto – Stan Getz and João Gilberto
1970 – Best Musical Show Album – Promises, Promises
1976 – Album of the Year – Still Crazy After All These Years – Paul Simon
1979 – Record of the Year – Just the Way You Are – Billy Joel
1980 – Album of the Year – 52nd Street – Billy Joel
1981 – Producer of the Year (non classical)
1984 – Best Album Of Original Score Written For A Motion Picture Or A Television Special – Flashdance
1995 – Best Musical Show Album – Passion
2003 – Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album – Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues – Tony Bennett
2005 – Album of the Year and Best Surround Sound Album – Genius Loves Company – Ray Charles
2005 – Technical Grammy for a Lifetime of Innovative Contributions to the Recording Academy
2006 – Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album – The Art of Romance – Tony Bennett
2007 – Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album – Duets: An American Classic – Tony Bennett
2012 – Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album – Duets II – Tony Bennett
Major albums produced by Phil Ramone:
Calypso in Brass – Harry Belafonte
The Art of Romance – Tony Bennett
Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool – Tony Bennett
Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues – Tony Bennett
Duets: An American Classic – Tony Bennett
Duets II – Tony Bennett
Lovelines – Carpenters
Genius Loves Company – Ray Charles
Genius and Friends – Ray Charles
Chicago 13 – Chicago
Hot Streets – Chicago
Stardust – Natalie Cole
Watermark – Art Garfunkel
The Stranger – Billy Joel
52nd Street – Billy Joel
Glass Houses – Billy Joel
An Innocent Man – Billy Joel
The Nylon Curtain – Billy Joel
The Bridge – Billy Joel
One Night Only: The Greatest Hits – Elton John
A Night to Remember – Cyndi Lauper
Valotte – Julian Lennon
The Secret Value of Daydreaming – Julien Lennon
Celebrate Me Home – Kenny Loggins
Just a Little Lovin’ – Shelby Lynn
Songs From the Last Century – George Michael
Duets: Friends and Legends – Anne Murray
Guitar Slinger – Brian Setzer Orchestra
Am I Not Your Girl? – Sinead O’Connor
There Goes Rhymin’ Simon – Paul Simon
Paul Simon in Concert: Live Rhymin’ – Paul Simon
Still Crazy After All These Years – Paul Simon
One Trick Pony – Paul Simon
So Beautiful or So What – Paul Simon
The Concert in Central Park – Simon & Garfunkel
Duets – Frank Sinatra
Duets II – Frank Sinatra
Phoebe Snow – Phoebe Snow
Second Childhood – Phoebe Snow
Never Letting Go – Phoebe Snow
Time Takes Time – Ringo Starr
It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook – Rod Stewart
As Time Goes By: The Great American Songbook Volume II – Rod Stewart
A Star is Born – Barbra Streisand
Till I Love You – Barbra Streisand
Mary – Mary Travers
Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall – Rufus Wainwright
