Record Producer Richard Perry Dies

Richard Perry, born on June 18, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York, was a distinguished American record producer whose career spanned several decades and encompassed a wide array of musical genres. From an early age, Perry exhibited a profound interest in music, influenced by his parents who were both music teachers and instrument manufacturers.

He received classical training in piano, guitar, drums, bass, and oboe, and during his high school years at Poly Prep Country Day School, he performed as a bass singer in a doo-wop group called The Legends. The group, later renamed The Escorts, recorded several singles in the early 1960s. After earning a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Michigan in 1964, Perry transitioned into the music industry,

initially working in marketing at Kama Sutra Records. He soon shifted to music production, with early projects including Captain Beefheart’s debut album “Safe as Milk” and Fats Domino’s “Fats Is Back.” In 1968, he produced Tiny Tim’s debut album, “God Bless Tiny Tim,” which reached No. 7 on Billboard’s Pop Albums chart, marking Perry’s first significant commercial success.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Perry solidified his reputation by producing a series of successful albums for prominent artists. His collaborations included Harry Nilsson’s “Nilsson Schmilsson,” Barbra Streisand’s “Stoney End,” Carly Simon’s “No Secrets,” and Ringo Starr’s “Ringo,” the latter featuring contributions from all four Beatles members post-breakup.

In 1978, Perry founded his own label, Planet Records, which achieved notable success with The Pointer Sisters, producing hits like “I’m So Excited” and “Jump.” After selling Planet Records to RCA in 1983, Perry continued to produce for various artists, including Donna Summer, Julio Iglesias, Randy Travis, and Neil Diamond.

In the 1990s and 2000s, Perry maintained his influence in the music industry by working with artists such as Ray Charles on the album “My World” and co-producing the initial albums in Rod Stewart’s “Great American Songbook” series. He also reunited with Carly Simon for her 2005 album “Moonlight Serenade,” which reached No. 7 on the Billboard 200.

Perry’s production style was characterized by his versatility and his ability to adapt to various musical styles, earning him a reputation as a “musician’s producer.” Perry’s personal life included a brief marriage to actress Rebecca Broussard from 1987 to 1988, and a long-term relationship with actress Jane Fonda from 2009 to 2017. In his later years, Perry was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Throughout his career, Richard Perry received numerous accolades, including multiple gold and platinum records,

and was honored with the Grammy Trustee Award in 2015, recognizing his significant contributions to the music industry. His legacy is marked by his exceptional ability to bring out the best in the artists he worked with, leaving an indelible impact on popular music. His page-turning memoir “Cloud Nine: Memoirs of a Record Producer”, takes us through his thrilling climb up the music industry ladder. He Richard Perry passed away on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, in Los Angeles, California, due to cardiac arrest at the age of 82. He is survived by three brothers.