Misplaced Pages

Bob Blank: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 12:48, 18 December 2024 editKarl Twist (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users18,017 edits Added cats' Linking. Improvements← Previous edit Revision as of 13:08, 18 December 2024 edit undoKarl Twist (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users18,017 edits →Background: Added more contentNext edit →
Line 19: Line 19:


==Background== ==Background==
Bob Blank was tinkering with electronics, and at the age of twelve, he built a high-frequency radio transmitter which didn't go down well with the Federal Communications Commission. He played guitar and at age eighteen, he was in a local band, and they made a record which was his first recording experience.<ref>''Schenectady Gazette'', 5 Jul 1989 - </ref>
Bob Blank originally wanted to be a session guitarist but following his move to New York, he realized that he didn't have what it took to get in. He stayed in the music scene and started record producing and sound engineering. Working as an engineer on "To Be with You" by ] proved successful as the song became a disco hit. Encouraged by the success of that he started his own studio which was called ]. Many disco and funk recordings were done there, and it was part of the "mutant disco scene". Artists such as ], ], ], ] and ] had either worked with him or had their recordings produced by him.<ref>''Red Bull Music Academy Daily'', 22 Dec 2015 - </ref> He originally wanted to be a session guitarist but following his move to New York, he realized that he didn't have what it took to get in. He stayed in the music scene and started record producing and sound engineering. Working as an engineer on "To Be with You" by ] proved successful as the song became a disco hit. Encouraged by the success of that he started his own studio which was called ]. Many disco and funk recordings were done there, and it was part of the "mutant disco scene". Artists such as ], ], ], ] and ] had either worked with him or had their recordings produced by him.<ref>''Red Bull Music Academy Daily'', 22 Dec 2015 - </ref> The ] refers to Blank as a legendary disco producer.<ref>The Vinyl Factory, July 4, 2013 - </ref>


Blank worked with a great amount of artists during the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was referred to as a studio dynamo by '']'' magazine.<ref>''Record Collector'', 03 October 2011 - </ref> Blank worked with a great number of artists during the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was referred to as a studio dynamo by '']'' magazine.<ref>''Record Collector'', 03 October 2011 - </ref>
He worked on recordings which include "Planet Rock" by ] and "Ain’t Nobody" by ].<ref>Ranson Note - </ref> He worked on recordings which include "Planet Rock" by ] and "Ain’t Nobody" by ].<ref>Ranson Note - </ref>


Revision as of 13:08, 18 December 2024

Bob Blank
Occupation(s)Music producer, sound engineer
Known forBlank Tape Studios
Blank Productions

Bob Blank is an American music producer and prolific sound engineer who ran Blank Tape Studios which opened in New York in 1976. Artists he has worked with include, James Chance, Kid Creole, Cristina, Lizzy Mercier-Descloux, Sandra Feva, Instant Funk, Lydia Lunch, Nelson Ned, Jimmy Sabater, Sun Ra and more.

Background

Bob Blank was tinkering with electronics, and at the age of twelve, he built a high-frequency radio transmitter which didn't go down well with the Federal Communications Commission. He played guitar and at age eighteen, he was in a local band, and they made a record which was his first recording experience. He originally wanted to be a session guitarist but following his move to New York, he realized that he didn't have what it took to get in. He stayed in the music scene and started record producing and sound engineering. Working as an engineer on "To Be with You" by Jimmy Sabater proved successful as the song became a disco hit. Encouraged by the success of that he started his own studio which was called Blank Tapes. Many disco and funk recordings were done there, and it was part of the "mutant disco scene". Artists such as James Chance, Paquito D'Rivera, Lizzy Mercier-Descloux, Kid Creole and Cristina had either worked with him or had their recordings produced by him. The Vinyl Factor refers to Blank as a legendary disco producer.

Blank worked with a great number of artists during the late 1970s and early 1980s. He was referred to as a studio dynamo by Record Collector magazine. He worked on recordings which include "Planet Rock" by Afrika Bambaataa and "Ain’t Nobody" by Chaka Khan.

August Darnell said that His studio was a haven for creative artists, and he would try things that other engineers wouldn't dare. Along with Darnell, as a producer, Blank was connected to the ZE record label which released recordings by the Aural Exciters etc. One album featured Taana Gardner.

Personal life

His former wife is Lola who had performed with James Brown.

Having a passion for ballroom dancing, Blank has been successful competing in events with his partner Martha Estevez. He was a winner in the Senior Latin World Championships in Paris, France in 2014. He was a featured dancer in The Stepford Wives which starred Nicole Kidman and Christopher Walken. Both Blank and Martha Estevez also were featured in Serena’s Song, a 2011 short which starred Michael O’Keefe and Margot Kidder and was featured at the 2011 Long Island International Film Expo.

Career

1970s - 1980s

While working at Delta Recording Corp. in New York in 1974, Blank produced "Happy Birthday, My Darling" for Nelson Ned and an LP for Luis Ramirez.

Blank was the engineer on the self-titled album by Latin music ensemble Orquesta Cimarron which was released on TR Records TR 115X in 1975. It was reviewed in the 17 January 1976 issue of Record World. The album was produced by Marty Sheller and arrangements by Pupi Lagarreta, Marty Sheller, Harry Shields, Sonny Bravo, Ron Davis and Wilfredo Mullings. The good mixing by Blank was noted.

In 1978, Instant Funk's single, "I Got My Mind Made Up" was released. The work in the mix by DJ Larry Levan and Bob Blank resonated throughout Manhattan and it became a hit on the R&B and disco charts, making it to no. 1 and no. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Working with Lydia Lunch, Blank co-produced her Queen of Siam album which was released in 1980 on ZE ZEA 33006. It was reviewed in the 1 March 1980 issue of Cash Box. The reviewer called it an interesting album.

Blank was the engineer on "Jam to Remember" by Just Four which was released on Brad Osborne's Grand Groove record label in 1982.

Working with Tony Camillo, Blank co-produced Sandra Feva's single, "Here Now". It was released on Catawba /Macola MRC -0961 in 12" format. A recommended single in the 27 December 1986 issue of Billboard, the reviewer said it was "big, voiced chanteuse tears into a splashy, dramatic ballad".

1990s - 2020s

According to 2010 article by Clash, Blank was recording sound-alike tracks for library music and karaoke formats.

It was announced by The Quietus in an article published on 3 March 2021 that alternative mixes by Bob Blank for Sun Ra's 1978 album Lanquidity would be part of CD release and CD and 4-LP box set to be released on the Strut label on 28 May that year.

Blank Tape Studios / Blank Productions

It was reported by Billboard in the magazine's 4 March 1989 issue that Blank Productions had Peter Moffit there, mixing his second self -produced jazz album. It was cited for release that month and Arthur Russell was finishing off his album there. Blank was working on two songs for Amy Keys which were produced by Paul Simpson. Blank had also worked on a live recorded CD by Paquito D'Rivera which featured a 16-piece string section and jazz combo.

Discography

  • The Blank Generation (Blank Tapes NYC 1975-1987) - Strut STRUT053LP, DJhistory.com STRUT053LP

References

  1. Schenectady Gazette, 5 Jul 1989 - Page 16 Homey Touches Help Boost Music Production Company By Joy L. Haenlein
  2. Red Bull Music Academy Daily, 22 Dec 2015 - Interview: New York Record Producer Bob Blank
  3. The Vinyl Factory, July 4, 2013 - Two rare Arthur Russell productions see limited edition releases
  4. Record Collector, 03 October 2011 - THE KID is still alright, Going Places
  5. Ranson Note - House Hunting #35 – Lola
  6. Record Collector, 03 October 2011 - THE KID is still alright, Going Places
  7. Record World, August 25, 1979 - Page 46 Disco File (Continued from page 22)
  8. Ebony, April 1992 - Page 120 Superboy continued, Mother and manager
  9. Sweet Tips from Lola!’S Lips, By Lola! Love · 2015 - ISBN 9781504337441, 1504337441 - Acknowledgements
  10. Latin Moves - Bob Blank
  11. Clash, 06 · 01 · 2010 - Bob Blank Retrospective Due
  12. Latin Moves - Bob Blank
  13. Long Island International Film Expo - [https://longislandfilm.com/archives/2011-official-selections/ Long Island International Film Expo 2011 July 7-14 2011 Official Selections (Alphabetical order), Sarina’s Song (16m, Student, Suffolk County, NY, USA)]
  14. Billboard, August 31, 1974 - Page 26 Studio Track By Bob Kirsch
  15. Record World, January 17, 1976 - Page 101 Record World Latin American Picks, Orquesta Cimarron TR Records TR 115X
  16. Soul Years - Instant Funk Songs
  17. Cash Box, March 1, 1980 - Page 15 Reviews Album Reviews, Queen Of Siam — Lydia Lunch — ZE ZEA 3300
  18. Humthrush, 10 Dec 2022 - The 50 Best Rap Singles of 1982: Just Four
  19. Billboard, Volume 98 No. 52 December 27, 1986 - Page 81 Reviews, Recommended, Sandra Feva Here Now
  20. Clash, 06 · 01 · 2010 - Bob Blank Retrospective Due
  21. The Quietus, 3 March 2021 - News, Sun Ra’s 1978 Album ‘Lanquidity’ To Be Reissued By Christian Eede
  22. Billboard, Volume 101 No. 9 - Page 66 Audio Track (Continued from preceding page), Other Cities
  23. AllMusi9c - The Blank Generation: Blank Tapes NYC 1975-1987

External links

Categories: