World-Renowned Producer Keynotes SRT Event

Phil Ramone, keynote speaker for the International Art of Record Production Conference.

Grammy Award-winner and world-renowned record producer Phil Ramone will be giving the keynote address at the fourth International Art of Record Production Conference to be hosted by the University’s Sound Recording and Music Business programs from Friday, Nov. 14, through Sunday, Nov. 16.

"When I started to think about who I'd like to get for the keynote address I thought someone of Ramone’s breadth is really the perfect person to bring in," says Prof. William Moylan, coordinator of the Sound Recording Technology program.

"He's been involved in all facets of music -- pop, jazz, classical. And he's also been at the forefront of technology. He's a pioneer in doing multitrack recording over the Internet, where people all over the world can contribute almost simultaneously."

Ramone, who has also won an Emmy, has worked with the likes of Madonna, Paul McCartney and Frank Sinatra. He produced the first CD ever pressed, Billy Joel’s “52nd Street.” He has also produced film, Broadway shows and television shows, including “Flashdance,” “Ghostbusters” and “Seussical the Musical.”

For the keynote address at the conference, Ramone will be interviewed by Maureen Droney, executive director of the Producers and Engineers Wing at the Recording Academy.

This is the first time the conference will be held in the United States, and it will showcase the University’s state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. The sound-recording program at UMass Lowell is one of very few in the country, and the University beat out conference hosting bids from core industry cities like New York and Los Angeles.

“My colleagues and I at the University of Massachusetts Lowell are honored to be hosting the 2008 conference,” says Moylan. “We are excited to be the first North American platform for this important exchange of ideas, experiences, knowledge and music, and look forward to this opportunity to share our exceptional facilities and resources with attendees from throughout the world.”

The conference also features a producers panel roundtable, industry panels, papers and presentations on the art of record production and several workshops. Information on the conference and registration can by found by visiting the artofrecordproduction website.

- Morgan_Hough