Phil Ramone Dead: Legendary Music Producer Dies at 72

Celebrity News March 30, 2013 AT 3:00PM By Justin Ravitz Tweet Phil Ramone attends the Salvation Army 65th annual gala at The New York Marriott Marquis on December 5, 2012 in NYC.Credit: Robin Marchant/Getty Images

The music world is mourning one of its most celebrated behind-the-scenes figures. Music producer and engineer Phil Ramone, a 14-time Grammy winner, passed away at New York Presbyterian Hospital on Saturday, March 30 following an aortic aneurysm in February, his son Matt confirmed to the Associated Press. Ramone was 72 years old, and is survived by sons Matt, BJ and Simon, and wife Karen.

PHOTOS: Stars we've lost

The list of superstars with whom Ramone worked during his storied career includes Burt Bacharach, Bono, Ray Charles, Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Madonna, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Frank Sinatra, Billy Joel, Stevie Wonder and many more. A technical innovator, Ramone is widely credited for helping popularize the use of the compact disc; he also used the fiber optics system EDNet to record tracks in "real time" from different locations to record Frank Sinatra's Duets album, and was the first to use a digital live recording for Billy Joel's Songs in the Attic album.

He was also behind some of the most popular film soundtracks of all time, producing albums for the films A Star is Born, Flashdance, Ghostbusters and Midnight Cowboy.

"Our industry has lost an immense talent and a true visionary and genius," said Neil Portnow, president of The Recording Academy, said in a statement.

His collaborators quickly remembered him on Saturday. "This is so shocking. I just performed for his tribute in December," Aretha Franklin said in a statement. "Truly one of the great names in music has gone on, but the melodies will remain."

PHOTOS: The music world's biggest night

Added Billy Joel: "I always thought of Phil Ramone as the most talented guy in my band.... The music world lost a giant today."

"[He was] he star of stars behind the stars," Stevie Wonder said. "What a great man, what a kind spirit, such an incredible producer . . . Truly a tragic loss for us on earth but what a wonderful blessing for heaven."

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Ryan Reynolds Coming To TV - As A Producer

Ryan Reynolds is expanding his talents.

He will be returning to television (2 Guys and a Girl, anyone??) - as an executive producer.

His production company Dark Fire has sold its first project to Fox. \

The show, Guidance, will star Mad Love's Tyler Labine and is described as an adult buddy comedy set in high school.

So far, this sounds pretty awesome….

Role Models and Just Go With It writer Tim Dowling is attached to write and co-executive produce, along with Ry Ry, Jonathon Komack Martin, Steve Pearl and Allan Loeb.

Sounds like this could be a hit! We have faith in you, Ryan!

[Image via WENN.]

Tags: comedy, dark fire, executive producer, fox, guidance, mad love, tim dowling, tv show, tyler labine

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Film producer Jon Peters accused in harassment case

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Hollywood producer Jon Peters' former personal assistant testified on Friday that he crawled into bed with her uninvited at an Australian hotel.

Shelly Morita's testimony came in a Los Angeles Superior Court trial of her $1 million sexual harassment lawsuit against the 66 year-old producer of such films as "Superman Returns" and "Batman".

Peters, who spent time working as a hair stylist in the 1970s, is thought to be one of the inspirations for actor Warren Beatty's womanizing hairdresser in the 1975 film "Shampoo." He was not in court on Friday.

Morita, 44, said that when she and Peters were staying in separate hotel rooms in Australia during the making of "Superman Returns" in 2005, she was startled to find her boss lying next to her in the middle of the night.

"He said, 'I can't sleep ... I'm lonely, let me just stay here with you,'" Morita testified. Morita said she repeatedly told Peters to leave, and that he eventually did.

She also told the court that later on the trip, Peters urged her to share a joint of marijuana with him.

"He leaned over and pushed his face against my mouth and blew smoke," she said. "I pushed him off. He laughed and thought it was funny."

Peters denies the allegations and his lawyers contend that they were concocted with help from an attorney representing plaintiffs in other cases against Peters.

Peters launched his producing career with the 1976 film "A Star Is Born" featuring Barbra Streisand.

Morita, who filed her lawsuit in 2006 after quitting her job, is seeking $1 million for emotional distress and $500,000 in lost wages, plus punitive damages.

(Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis: Editing by Jill Serjeant)

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