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Bob Ezrin

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Bob Ezrin
OC
Birth nameRobert Alan Ezrin
Born (1949-03-25) March 25, 1949 (age 75)
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres
Occupations
  • Record producer
  • musician
Instruments
  • Piano
  • keyboards
  • vocals
Years active1970–present

Robert Alan Ezrin OC (born March 25, 1949) is a Canadian music producer and keyboardist, best known for his work with Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, Aerosmith, Kiss, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Peter Gabriel, Andrea Bocelli and Phish. As of 2010, Ezrin's career in music had spanned four decades and his production work continued into the 21st century, with acts such as Deftones and Thirty Seconds to Mars.[1] Ezrin is the winner of three Juno Awards.[2][3][4] In 2011, he was awarded the Special Achievement Award at the 2011 SOCAN Awards held in Toronto.[5] On 29 December 2022, Ezrin was named an Officer of the Order of Canada, the second-highest civilian honour in Canada.

Early life

Ezrin was born in Toronto, Ontario, on March 25, 1949 to Jewish parents. He resided in the Forest Hill area of Toronto.[6]

Music and production career

As of 2014, Ezrin continued to work as a record producer, arranger and songwriter, in addition to being involved with a variety of other projects in digital media, live production, film, television, and theatrical production.[7][8][9]

Ezrin has worked on recordings with numerous major artists, including Pink Floyd, Phish, Alice Cooper, KISS, Balloonatic, Deep Purple, Lou Reed, The Kings, Hanoi Rocks, Taylor Swift, Peter Gabriel, Bonham, K'naan, 2Cellos, Kristin Chenoweth, Rod Stewart, Nine Inch Nails, The Jayhawks, Thirty Seconds to Mars, The Darkness, Jane's Addiction, Dr. John, Nils Lofgren, Berlin, Kansas, Julian Lennon, Joe Bonamassa and Deftones, among many others. Ezrin also recorded the very first demos for Toronto band Max Webster.[10]

Ezrin has been described by Alice Cooper as "our George Martin".[11] Following his first production work on an album with Love it to Death in 1971, Ezrin embarked on a long-term collaboration that, by 1973, would see the release of the number one album Billion Dollar Babies, a year after the success of School's Out; Cooper subsequently became established as one of the biggest acts in the world.[12] After the disbanding of Cooper's group, Ezrin continued his collaboration with Cooper, as the latter embarked upon a solo career. In 1975, Cooper released the Ezrin-produced album, Welcome To My Nightmare. Ezrin worked with Cooper not just as a producer, but also as a co-writer, arranger, and musician.[13]

Ezrin produced the best-selling KISS album Destroyer in 1976.[14] As explained by Peter Criss during an interview in the documentary KISS: Krazy Killer (1994), Ezrin co-wrote, arranged and performed the piano accompaniment to the song "Beth".[15] Ezrin proceeded to produce two other albums with the band -- Music from "The Elder" and Revenge—and remains close to the band's members in the 21st century.[16]

Ezrin has worked with Pink Floyd on a number of occasions, co-producing the albums The Wall, A Momentary Lapse of Reason, and The Division Bell. He has also co-written the songs "The Trial", "Signs of Life", "Learning to Fly", and "Take It Back".[10]

Ezrin also produced the 1988 Kansas album In the Spirit of Things, and received a writing credit for the song "Ghosts" and three other songs.

In May 2009, Ezrin co-produced The Clearwater Concert at Madison Square Garden, celebrating the 90th birthday of musician and activist Pete Seeger. More than 50 guest artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews, John Mellencamp, Ben Harper, Joan Baez, Tom Morello, Ani DiFranco, Emmylou Harris, and Kris Kristofferson, performed at the event.[17] Ezrin also co-produced the PBS broadcast of the event.

Since 2010, Ezrin has co-produced Peter Gabriel's album Scratch My Back; co-produced The House Rules, by Christian Kane; and produced singles for K'naan, the Canadian Tenors, and young pop sensation, Fefe Dobson, for her album, Joy.[18] Ezrin also reunited with Cooper, working on Cooper's Welcome 2 My Nightmare, on the corresponding live show, and numerous other related projects.[19] He also mixed several projects, including Taylor Swift's Speak Now World Tour Live CD and DVD (2011), and an album by The Darkness (2012).[20]

In 2012, Ezrin remixed KISS's 1976 album Destroyer, which by then had gone Double Platinum.[21] Also, he produced albums for 2Cellos and rock legends Deep Purple.[22] Bob worked with the band Phish on their 2014 release, Fuego.[23] They reunited for the band's next album, Big Boat, released in 2016.[24] Ezrin worked with Andrea Bocelli on Sì, Bocelli's first No. 1 album, both in the UK and USA.[25]

Ezrin produced a live and television extravaganza to reopen the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, US, starring Green Day and U2.[26] He also worked on an album and live opera with L'Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio in Rome, Italy.[27]

Other ventures

Entrepreneurship

In 1993, Ezrin co-founded a computer software company called 7th Level,[28] which developed and published educational and entertainment CD-ROMs, including a series of Monty Python games.[29]

In 1999, Ezrin co-founded Enigma Digital,[30] an internet radio provider, that was eventually sold to Clear Channel; Ezrin was later appointed vice-chairman of Clear Channel Interactive.[31] Ezrin was also Chairman of Live Nation Artists Recordings in 2007 and the first half of 2008.

Ezrin is also co-founder and vice chairman of Wow Unlimited Media.

In 2009, Ezrin, along with Garth Richardson and Kevin Williams,[32] co-founded the Nimbus School of Recording Arts in Vancouver.[33] Ezrin stated that his goal was to provide new engineers and producers with the hands-on teaching experience that he believed was no longer available from traditional recording studios.[34]

Philanthropy

Ezrin is a board member of the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation,[citation needed] a national initiative that supports music in US schools by donating musical instruments to under-funded music programs. He is also an Advisory Committee member of MusiCounts, the musical education initiative of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, that provides instruments to Canadian school music programs.[35]

He is co-founder, with U2's The Edge, of Music Rising, an initiative to preserve the musical culture of the Gulf coast region following the damage caused by the hurricanes and flooding of 2005.[36]

On February 18, 2010, Ezrin helped with the mobilization of the Young Artists for Haiti group. Fifty Canadian artists recorded a rendition of hip hop star K'naan's "Wavin' Flag" for the victims of the Haiti quake.[37] The song was reworked by Ezrin to include specific lyrics for Haiti, with proceeds disseminated to Free the Children, War Child Canada, and World Vision Canada. The production raised over US$2 million.[38] K'naan explained in regard to the initiation of the project: "I got a call from Randy [Lennox, president] at Universal [Music Canada] and Bob Ezrin. They had this idea that they wanted to do something lasting, that actually educates young people in Canada about Haiti and not let the fatigue of the subject wash over everybody and everybody just forget Haiti."[37]

Ezrin is a Chairman Emeritus of the Los Angeles Mentoring Partnership and a past Trustee and Governor of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS).[39]

He is also a member of the Board of the Canadian Journalism Foundation, which promotes, celebrates and facilitates excellence in journalism.

As of 2022, Bob is engaged as a Canadian climate activist.[40][41][42]

Film and television

In 1982, Ezrin briefly appeared as the host of Enterprise, a City-TV panel show that replaced Dr. Morton Shulman's The Shulman File; he has also been a frequent interviewee for documentary films and television.[43] Ezrin has created new theatrical, television, and live events with RadicalMedia, based in New York, including Jay-Z's feature film, Fade to Black.[44] In 2012, Ezrin appeared in Artifact, a documentary film about the modern music business focused on the legal battle between Thirty Seconds to Mars and record label EMI.

He is a co-producer of Melanie Doane's children's music television series Ukulele U.[45]

Honour and recognition

Ezrin was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in April 2004[46] and the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame in March 2006.[47]

In 2011, Ezrin and Young Artist for Haiti won the Juno Award in Canada for "Single of the Year".[48] Also in 2011, he was awarded an "Outstanding Contribution" at the Classic Rock Magazine Awards.[49] In 2013, he was honoured with a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto.[50]

Ezrin was also honoured in 2013 by The Royal Conservatory of Music,[51] being named an Honorary Fellow of The Royal Conservatory.[52]

In late 2022, Ezrin was named an Officer of the Order of Canada, "For his ongoing contributions to music and entertainment production, and for his sustained advocacy of musical education, journalism and environmental justice."[53]

Personal life

Ezrin is married to Janet Ezrin.[54]

Partial discography

See also

References

  1. ^ Rustycat (November 12, 2006). "Bob Ezrin: Legendary Music Producer". The Plugg Music and Entertainment Community. The Plugg Music Blog. Archived from the original on February 10, 2018. Retrieved April 22, 2012.
  2. ^ "Hall of Fame 2004". Juno Awards. Canadian Music Hall of Fame. 2004. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  3. ^ "Producer of the Year 2013". Juno Awards. Canadian Music Hall of Fame. 2013. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  4. ^ "Producer of the Year 2016". Juno Awards. Canadian Music Hall of Fame. 2016. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  5. ^ "Special Achievement Award – Bob Ezrin | SOCAN". Archived from the original on October 29, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  6. ^ Karen Bliss (November 28, 2011). "Backbeat: Bob Ezrin, Crowbar, Kardinal Offishall Honored @ Canada's SOCAN Awards". Billboard.biz. Billboard. Archived from the original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  7. ^ "Bob Ezrin – Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  8. ^ "Bob Ezrin – IMDB". IMDb. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  9. ^ "Interview: Bob Ezrin". hit-channel.com. April 12, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  10. ^ a b "Bob Ezrin – Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
  11. ^ Dave Sloan (August 21, 2012). "New Music Tuesday". Let's Not Get Carried Away. WordPress. Archived from the original on September 8, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  12. ^ "Alice Cooper Biography". Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. 2012. Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  13. ^ Russell Hall (January–February 2002). "Bob Ezrin". Performing Songwriter. Be Heard. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  14. ^ timstar78 (1996–2012). "The KissFAQ Interview: Resurrecting Destroyer With Bob Ezrin". KissFAQ.com. KissFAQ. Archived from the original on January 14, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ Goldmine (November 20, 1998). "Peter Criss Interview Goldmine Magazine 11/20/98". KISS Supreme. Terje. Archived from the original on April 22, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  16. ^ Tim McPhate. "The KissFAQ Interview: Resurrecting Destroyer With Bob Ezrin". Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
  17. ^ The Clearwater concert : Pete Seeger's 90th birthday celebration from Madison Square Garden. OCLC. 2009. OCLC 695726154 – via WorldCat.
  18. ^ "Joy – Fefe Dobson: Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  19. ^ Rob Rockitt (May 26, 2010). "Alice Cooper reunites with Bob Ezrin through Bigger Picture". Hard Rock Hideout. WordPress.com. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  20. ^ "Hot Cakes – The Darkness: Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  21. ^ Wright, Shauna (January 10, 2012). "KISS set release date for 25th anniversary 'Destroyer' Deluxe Edition". Ultimateclassicrock.com. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  22. ^ Chris M. Junior (April 30, 2012). "Deep Purple teaming up with Bob Ezrin for new studio album". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  23. ^ "Phish Prep 'Fuego,' First New Studio Album in Five Years". yahoo.com. May 14, 2014.
  24. ^ Mike Katzif (September 12, 2016). "Listen: Phish Share A Breezy New Rocker". NPR.
  25. ^ "Producer Bob Ezrin Tells the Story Behind Andrea Bocelli's Duet With His Son". Billboard. Billboard Magazine. 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  26. ^ Mike Triplett (September 23, 2011). "Musical performance set tone in New Orleans Saints' return to Superdome". The Times-Picayune. New Orleans Net LLC. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  27. ^ A cura di pavelo (2009). "Bob Ezrin produrrà l'Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio". Troublezine (in Italian). Archived from the original on January 14, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  28. ^ Gary Fishman; Susan Romeo. "7th Level Gets Out of Games". The Computer Show. digit.com. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  29. ^ "Monty Python's The Meaning of Life – Credits – allgame". allgame. Rovi Corp. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  30. ^ Karen Kaplan (January 1, 2000). "Enigma Digital Acquires Two Radio Web Sites, Plans More". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  31. ^ Clear Channel Internet Group (February 7, 2012). "Clear Channel Communications Inc. Acquires Enigma Digital". PR Newswire. PR Newswire Association LLC. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  32. ^ "Nimbus' Founders". Nimbus School of Recording. Nimbus School of Recording Arts. 2012. Archived from the original on December 27, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  33. ^ "Canadian Company Capabilities". Industry Canada. September 12, 2011. Archived from the original on January 14, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  34. ^ Scott Buchanan (2011). "An Interview with Bob Ezrin". Long & McQuade Musical Instruments. Long & McQuade Limited. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  35. ^ "Advisory Committee". Musicounts. 2012. Archived from the original on February 16, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  36. ^ Devlin Smith (September 22, 2006). "Interview: Bob Ezrin, Producer, Music Rising Co-Founder". Interference. Social Knowledge ® and Interference, THE U2 Community. Archived from the original on November 8, 2011. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  37. ^ a b Karen Bliss (April 18, 2010). "Young Artists For Haiti's "Wavin' Flag" Single Still No. 1 Download". Samaritan Mag. Samaritanmag.com. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  38. ^ "Legendary Producers Bob Ezrin and Steve Lillywhite Join Canadian Music Week 2013 as Featured Speakers". Canadian Music Fest. 2012. Archived from the original on June 15, 2013. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
  39. ^ Norm McIntosh (April 27, 2012). "Win a guitar autographed by Bryan Adams and support Evolutionary". Rainbow Schools. Rainbow District School Board. Archived from the original on January 14, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  40. ^ "News from the Canadian Journalism Foundation". Correction from the Source. Cision. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  41. ^ "Guest Lecturer". Trent University. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  42. ^ "Guest Lecturer". Luminato. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  43. ^ "Robert Ezrin – IMDB". IMDB.com, Inc. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  44. ^ "Fade to black [videorecording] / Paramount Classics presents a @Radical. Media, Marcy Projects & Roc-A-Fella Records production, a Shawn Carter film; produced by Bob Ezrin, Rich Kleiman, Justin Wilkes; directed by Pat Paulson and Michael John Warren". Stanford University Libraries. Stanford University. 2005. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  45. ^ Stephen Cooke, "Sing along with Melanie: Doane’s Ukulele U encourages youthful music making". SaltWire Network, March 11, 2022.
  46. ^ "Bob Ezrin". Canadian Music Hall of Fame. 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  47. ^ "LEGENDARY PRODUCER Bob Ezrin Canadian Music Hall of Fame Producer & Founder of Nimbus School of Recording Arts". Canadian Urban Music Conference. 2012. Archived from the original on January 14, 2015. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  48. ^ Kei Baritugo (March 28, 2011). "And the JUNO goes to... Arcade Fire, Neil Young, and Justin Bieber". Vancouver Observer. Retrieved November 29, 2012.[permanent dead link‍]
  49. ^ "Outstanding Contribution". Classic Rock presented by Orange. Future Publishing Limited. 2011. Archived from the original on November 19, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  50. ^ "Bob Ezrin". Canada's Walk of Fame. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  51. ^ "The Royal Occasion Gala Honours Randy Bachman, Bob Ezrin, and Adrianne Pieczonka". 2013. Archived from the original on September 15, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  52. ^ "Nimbus Co-Founder Bob Ezrin Honoured by Royal Conservatory of Music". 2013.[permanent dead link‍]
  53. ^ Simon, Mary (December 21, 2022). "Order of Canada appointees – December 2022". The Governor General of Canada. King's Press. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  54. ^ "Music Producer Bob Ezrin Kisses His Wife Jan During Canada's Walk of Fame Induction". Yahoo News Canada. September 22, 2013. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
  55. ^ Elliott, Paul (September 25, 1999). "Going Down…". Kerrang!. pp. 16–17.
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