Phil Ramone
PMP Network Presents
Phil Ramone, a renowned music producer, shares his experiences working with the legendary Groucho Marx. He recounts the challenges and humor of recording Marx's live performances late in his career. Ramone offers insights into Marx's off-stage persona and his enduring wit.
Phil Ramone
About Phil Ramone
Phil Ramone was a music producer and recording engineer who co-founded A&R Recording studio in New York in 1959. He produced landmark albums including Billy Joel's "52nd Street" and Paul Simon's "Still Crazy After All These Years," both winning Grammy Awards for Album of the Year. A pioneer of digital recording, he produced the first major commercial compact disc release. Over his career, Ramone won 14 competitive Grammy Awards plus a lifetime achievement honor.
In this interview
- Recalls producing Groucho Marx's Carnegie Hall concert late in Marx's career after stroke
- Describes Marx as equally salty and funny off stage as on stage
- Recounts recording Marx in three cities including Iowa and San Francisco
- Shares Marx's spontaneous humor, noting he never wrote things down beforehand
“He was as salty off stage as he was on stage. And he was very funny.”— Phil Ramone, in this interview
Since this interview
Phil Ramone died on March 30, 2013, at age 79 at New York Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan from complications of aortic aneurysm surgery.
