Condolences: Tommy LiPuma
Veteran music industry executive and producer Tommy LiPuma died Monday evening in New York City at the age of 80 after a brief, undisclosed illness. As NPR reports, over the course of his remarkable career, LiPuma famously made records with such notables as George Benson, Diana Krall, Paul McCartney, Natalie Cole, Dr. John, David Sanborn, Barbara Streisand, Queen Latifah, Leon Russell, Al Jarreau and Miles Davis. The recordings LiPuma produced sold over 75 million copies, including 35 titles that went gold or platinum — those include Natalie Cole’s 1991 Unforgettable … With Love (which went seven times platinum); George Benson’s 1976 album Breezin’, which went to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 Chart; and a string of hits with Diana Krall across 11 titles and over 15 million albums sold. Along the way, LiPuma won five Grammy Awards and earned 33 Grammy nominations.
After working as a barber, the Cleveland-born LiPuma began packing vinyl records at a warehouse. He was later offered a job in Los Angeles as a radio promoter for Liberty Records before taking a job in publishing. After that he went to work as a producer on early recordings by The O’Jays and Randy Newman. LiPuma became the first staff producer at A&M Records, and in the 1960s co-founded the musically eclectic Blue Thumb Records with future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame co-founder Bob Krasnow. He went on to hold executive positions at Warner Bros., Elektra, GRP/Impulse and Verve. In 2011, LiPuma produced McCartney’s Concord album Kisses On The Bottom, which won a Grammy for Best Pop Standard Album (Vocal), along with projects with Leon Russell and trumpeter Dominick Farinacci. His most recent production was Diana Krall’s forthcoming album, Turn Up The Quiet.
Sir Lucian Grainge, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group said of LiPuma, “Music has lost an icon. There are very few who have had Tommy’s ear for talent, let alone his track record of hits. I know I speak for everyone at Universal Music, and in the music community, when I say we will forever be grateful for Tommy’s brilliant creativity, kind heart and passion for music. His legacy will continue to inspire and guide us.” LiPuma is survived by his wife, Gill, daughters Jen Monti and Danielle Wiener and four grandchildren.
