On March 30, 2013, Phillip “Phil” Ramone died aged 79. He was musician (violin), recording engineer, producer, and composer, in 1958, together with Jack Arnold he founded the recording studio “A & R Recording, Inc.” later became record company. Ramone is regarded as one of the most successful music producers ever, with 14 “Grammy” awards and cooperation with names such as Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Elton John and Paul McCartney. He is also known as producer of the first major commercial release on CD, Billy Joel’s 1982 album “52nd Street”.
Tag Archives: Ray Charles
Ray Charles: What’d I Say
On February 18, 1959, Ray Charles recorded the song “What’d I Say”. The recording was made in the late evening improvisation when Charles, his orchestra and backup singers had played their entire set list at a show. “Atlantic” label released the 7” single in July 1959 and it divided the song in two parts (A side and B side) with total length of 6:30 minutes. The song was produced by Jerry Wax. This was Ray Charles first gold record and it is one of the most influential songs in the history of modern music. In 2002 “What’d I say” was added to the “National Recording Registry” and ranked at number 10 in Rolling Stone ’s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of all Time”.
We Are the World
On January 28, 1985, the song “We Are the World” was recorded in the “A&M” studios in LA. The USA response to the UK Band Aid’s “Do they know it’s Christmas” was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album We Are the World. The single was released on March 7, 1985 on “Columbia” label and sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
The following singers, musicians and celebrities took part in the song:
- Lionel Richie
- Stevie Wonder
- Paul Simon
- Kenny Rogers
- James Ingram
- Tina Turner
- Billy Joel
- Michael Jackson
- Diana Ross
- Dionne Warwick
- Willie Nelson
- Al Jarreau
- Bruce Springsteen
- Kenny Loggins
- Steve Perry
- Daryl Hall
- Huey Lewis
- Cyndi Lauper
- Kim Carnes
- Bob Dylan
- Ray Charles
- Dan Aykroyd
- Harry Belafonte
- Lindsey Buckingham
- Mario Cipollina
- Johnny Colla
- Sheila E.
- Bob Geldof
- David Paich
- Michael Boddicker
- Paulinho da Costa
- Louis Johnson
- Michael Omartian
- Greg Phillinganes
- John Robinson
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