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Joel Dorn Obituary
He died Monday in New York of a heart attack, said Kevin Calabro of Hyena Records, a small independent jazz label Dorn founded.
Dorn won back-to-back Grammys for record of the year in 1972 and 1973 for the Roberta Flack hits "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and "Killing Me Softly With His Song."
He also produced such acclaimed recordings as Midler's "The Divine Miss M," The Allman Brothers "Idlewild South" and the Nevilles' "Fiyo On The Bayou."
He was likely best known within the industry, however, as one of the in-house producers for Ahmet Ertegun's Atlantic Records, where he worked with such jazz greats as Mann, Les McCann, Max Roach, Freddie Hubbard, Keith Jarrett, Oscar Brown Jr. and others.
"Joel bridged the worlds of jazz and pop with enormous skill and grace, never compromising the integrity of his artists and their music," said Edgar Bronfman Jr., chairman of Warner Music Group, whose subsidiary, Rhino Records, has reissued much of Atlantic's jazz catalog under Dorn's direction.
Born in Philadelphia on April 7, 1942, Dorn was still in his teens when he went to work as a disc jockey for a local jazz station. The job led to a friendship with Ertegun's older brother, Nesuhi, who hired him at Atlantic in 1967.
In addition to his work with Rhino, Dorn also released archival recordings for the labels 32 Records, Night and M. For 32 Records he produced the popular 1998 compilation "Jazz For a Rainy Afternoon."
At the time of his death he was working on a compilation of the work he did with Nesuhi Ertegun called "Hommage 'A Nesuhi."
"Even to his last day he was passionate about the music and the projects he was working on," Calabro said. "He was the real deal."
Dorn is survived by sons David, Michael and Adam and his longtime companion, Faye Rosen.
Copyright © 2007 The Associated Press
20 Entries
October 31, 2019
God is a God of all Comfort and he will Comfort the Family's...My condolences.,
TH
December 24, 2015
To the Dorn Family, My heartfelt prayers continue to go out for all the families and friends of such an acclaimed and loved person. May the God of all comfort be with you as we await the promises of Isa 65:19 for everyone - "No more will there be heard in her the sound of weeping or a cry of distress.
How you can show support
June 13, 2013
How wonderful you were here...see you next time too.
May all the sugar poor out and make the world sweeter...from your memory
becky friend - singer/jazz flute
Charles Hunter
May 22, 2010
I did not even know Joel had passed! He was my introduction to "The Music" when I was a teenager. Joel had such class on air. I miss him though I never met him. He's in my life. Like the music he chose, his life was a statement!
April 3, 2010
For Joel...the Grammy-winning record producer who worked with Roberta Flack, Bette Midler, the Neville Brothers, Herbie Mann and numerous other jazz, R&B and pop musicians.
WEEP NOT FOR ME
Do not weep for me when I no longer dwell among the wonders of the earth; for my larger self is free, and my soul rejoices on the other side of pain...on the other side of darkness.
Do not weep for me, for I am a ray of sunshine that touches your skin, a tropical breeze upon your face, the hush of joy within your heart and the innocence of babes in mothers arms.
I am the hope in a darkened night. And, in your hour of need, I will be there to comfort you. I will share your tears, your joys, your fears, your disappointments and your triumphs.
Do not weep for me, for I am cradled
in the arms of God. I walk with the angels, and hear the music beyond the stars.
Do not weep for me, for I am within you;
I am peace, love, I am a soft wind that caresses the flowers. I am the calm that follows a raging storm. I am an autumns leaf that floats among the garden of God, and I am pure white snow that softly falls upon your hand.
Do not weep for me, for I shall never die, as long as you remember me...
with a smile and a sigh.
© Joe Fazio
~
[email protected] /Joe Fazio,
Beverly Hills, California
Marlene Menna
May 7, 2008
I was sad to hear of Joel's passing. I graduated from Yeadon High School with Joel and can see him now "walking down the halls of the school singing some sort of "bip boppin". He always had music in him. Good bye Joel.
Sheila Smith
December 20, 2007
Rest in Peace Joel.
December 19, 2007
Catherine,Philadelphia,pa.
December 19, 2007
So many are the griefs in our lives but none as the death of a loved one. May Jehovah God give his comfort to your family at this time. His wdrd in the Bible tells us at Psalms 37:11 it says:But the meek ones themselves will posses the earth, And they will find their exqusite delight in the abundance of peace. This a sure hope for all who have passed away in death, the resurrection of life
Sincerely
Mary [email protected]
,
LR
December 19, 2007
In My Pocket
I have memories in my pocket.
They rattle among the change.
My memories of you are treasures I carry wherever I go.
They are stored in bits and pieces, parts of a beautiful whole
They give me comfort when I think I am alone.
Yes, I have memories in my pocket, like so much other stuff I keep there.
But of all the treasures I have, it’s the memories of you that are the most precious.
Charles Crouther Jr.
December 19, 2007
"Killing me softly", and "First time ever I saw your face", are two of my favorite songs of all time, sorry to hear of Mr. Dorn's passing.
Emma Henderson
December 19, 2007
Once again a musical giant is called home.God bless family and friends of this great talent.
ray interlandi
December 19, 2007
My heart goes out to you at this time and in the days ahead.
D.L. ZIMMERMAN
December 19, 2007
REST IN PEACE, JOEL DORN
b pettus
December 19, 2007
please accept my heart felt sympathy for the loss of your loved one,may God (Jehovah)grant you peace Rev:21 3-4
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