Phil Ramone: Music legend speaks at Skidmore

SARATOGA SPRINGS - Inside the gold-record-plated walls of the music industry,
Phil Ramone is a living legend.

For those to whom his name rings a vague bell of recognition, it should be explained that Phil Ramone is not a leather jacket-wearing punkster coming to serenade with a rendition of 'Blitzkrieg Bop.'
Nor is he the gun-toting record producer known for inventing the 'wall of sound.'

Ramone's 40 years of music engineer and music producing work can be found in the liner notes of some of the most popular records of the 20th century, and in collaborations with everyone from Frank Sinatra to the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Speaking at Skidmore College Tuesday night, Ramone offered advice to a crowd made up of students and music fans.

He explained his success by having a passion for the work, and understanding the ego-less psychology of 'the world behind the glass.'

When asked about work during Simon & Garfunkel's on-again, off-again friendship during their recording of 'Concert in Central Park,' Ramone laughed that his biggest accomplishment was in keeping the two apart off-stage.

He also shared some wisdom for students having doubts about a career in music in the 21st century: 'Let your passion and your belief drive what you do.'

Ramone's passion began at the age of 3, when he started playing the violin. By time he was 10 years old, he had played a command performance for Queen Elizabeth. A decade later, he was the music producer when Marilyn Monroe sang 'Happy Birthday' at President Kennedy's birthday party. Subsequent White House gigs under the Johnson and Carter administrations followed.

He also had a hand early in his career in the recording of Procol Harum's 'Whiter Shade of Pale,' Arlo Guthrie's 'Alice's Restaurant' and Peter, Paul & Mary's 'Leaving on A Jet Plane.'

The past 30 years brought dozens of more artists into the fold. Last month, Ramone added three more Grammy Awards to his collection - bringing the total to 12 - and next month,
he'll be in Las Vegas making a live recording at Caesar's Palace with Elton John.

His philosophy, he said, remains simple: 'Let's just go in there and not be afraid to make mistakes.'

One of the things he is committed to nowadays is developing what he calls 'surround sound.' Two years ago, he worked on the re-issuing of Bob Dylan's 'Blood on the Tracks.'
Happy with the outcome, Ramone said his goal was: 'I wanted you to be able to hear it like
Bob was sitting right in front of you.'

Ramone's son, B.J., a student at Skidmore, attended his father's talk, and will be graduating shortly with a music degree in music. The young man said he was thrilled his father was on campus, teaching students and sharing his knowledge. The fame aspect of his father's job is something he takes with a grain of salt.

He has heard the stories about Barbra Streisand rocking him in her arms when he was a baby, and about Billy Joel singing to his mother's stomach when he was in the womb.

'To me, he's the normal guy I have dinner with, the guy I call Papa,' he said.

By Thomas Dimopoulos
The Saratogian, March 23, 2005