What a week.... RIP Rudy von, Jim Bentley, and Mike Shipley

[Ernest Buckley]

Its been a tough week... We lost three audio inspirations this past week....

First our very own Rudy von... I was one of those people that always found Angelo to be a rather amusing HC member. I had absolutely no idea what the heck he was talking about most of the time but I found him entertaining. In the last year, I was fortunate to work with him a bit as well. He asked me to record some vocals for a tune he wrote with another member here on HC. And just last month we were discussing via email Marks tunes and my production work on one of them. I did not know Rudy von personally but I could tell from his emails he was an interesting person and sincere lover of music. Working with HC members on their projects is always a joy to me and lossing Rudy von hit me in the gut. 

 

My Brooklyn community also lost Jim Bentley, owner of The Fort in Bushwick. I did not know Jim but I knew of his place and was considering working there several years ago to track some tunes. Brooklyn is a densely populated borough and as diverse as it gets. Within its 10 mile radius, you will find cultures from all around the world all melting into this unique place I was born and call home. From what I have heard from others, Jim had a passion for audio and assisting artists/bands in realizing their audio vision. We share that in common and I feel his loss.

 

Lastly, we lost a true giant in the audio world when Mike Shipley passed. If you don`t know Mike Shipley then shame on you! The first rock record I ever owned was Pyromania. That record awoke in me something at the age of 8-9 that I still cannot describe. Something primal and something pure. Something that has inspired me to live, breath, eat music. Its funny because I got to know Mike a bit over at GS the last few years when I complimented his mixing but also expressed my displeasure in how his work was mastered. Mike initially misunderstood my posts but he eventually came around. We had a unique relationship... as much as my posts irked him, he would mention me at times in his posts.... as silly as it sounds, I was honored someone of his magnitude knew me on a first name basis. I think in the end, Mike and I share the same passion for making the best music we possibly can and even though my success is not even a clitch on his radar compared to his astronomical success, I do in part thank and credit him for inspiring me.

 

Its been a rough week but I carry within me that passion to make the best music possible with the time and talent I have. I hope anyone who reads this realizes that music is a gift to be shared because in the end, music is about creating and creating is a labor of love. Literally...

[Etienne Rambert]

Yeah, Angelo (Rudy) and I had several things going. He skyped me an early version of one of my instrumentals on June 29, just four days before he died, apparently.

 

 

Sorry, I don't know about Mike Shipley or Jim Bently.I'm a cranky old dude, cranking out cranky old tunes.

Maybe I'll try Ernest Buckley next. He did fabulous work on one of Angelo's & my projects. 

[Vito Corleone]

Wow. Shipley was huge. I can't even begin to count how many important albums to me he mixed. The Cars. Queen. Def Leppard. His name seemed to be on everything in the 80s. He went on to mix Shania Twain. Must of been Mutt Lange's main dude? A huge talent. R.I.P.