Tom Dowd who produced a host of stars spanning jazz, soul and rock over 50 years, has died in south Florida at age 77. Dowd died yesterday morning (Oct. 27) at a nursing home in Aventura, Fla. after fighting a respiratory disease for two years, his daughter Dana Dowd said. “His contribution to music was immense. He covered so many genres over so many years and touched so many lives. He loved what he did,” she said.
Dowd produced Rod on his first 3 solo albums after leaving the Faces……… Atlantic Crossing, A Night On The Town and Footloose And Fancy Free and was responsible for such hits has Sailing, I Don’t Want To Talk About It, Tonight’s The Night, Hot Legs, You’re In My Heart and The Killing Of Georgie.
He was considered a pioneer in the studio and is credited with introducing the first eight-track recording machine into a major studio in 1957. In later years, he lamented what he thought was the sorry state of the modern pop music industry he saw as lacking in real talent and overly driven by commercial interests. He was recently honored with a National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Lifetime Achievement Award.
This year he won a special merit Grammy Award… the 2002 Trustees Award.
There are a tribe of musicians spread all over the world who have been fostered and nurtured by Tom Dowd. They know who they are, and they are proud of who they are, but most of all, they are proud of TOM DOWD.
RIP.