Phil Ramone, 14-Time Grammy-Winning Producer, Dead at 72

Christina Lee | March 30, 2013 11:17 am

Phil Ramone, a 14-time Grammy-winning producer once dubbed “The Pope of Pop,” has died at age 72. Ramone’s son Matt confirmed his death, but has yet to release other details.

In his 60-year career Ramone worked with artists on dozens of recordings, including Cyndi Lauper‘s “Change of Heart,” Madonna‘s “Crazy for You,” Paul McCartney‘s “Only Love Remains” and Tony Bennett‘s Duets II. He also produced the first-ever compact disc to be pressed, Billy Joel‘s 52nd Street, and the first pop DVD release, Dave Grusin Presents West Side Story.

“Phil Ramone was a lovely person and a very gifted musician and producer,” Bennett said on Facebook. “It was a joy to have him work with me in the recording studio on so many projects as he had a wonderful sense of humor and a deep love of music. Phil had the admiration and respect from everyone in the entertainment industry and his passing is a great loss.”

He won his first Grammy in 1964 and went on to win Producer of the Year for Paul Simon‘s Still Crazy After All These Years, plus Record of the Year for Joel’s “Just the Way You Are.” Revisit the latter after the jump. 

[via THR]