Bill Schnee Last updated March 10, 2025 American musician, music producer, audio engineer
Bill Schnee
Birth name William S. Schnee Born (1947-07-04 ) July 4, 1947 (age 77) Phoenix, Arizona , U.S.Occupation(s) Recording engineer, producer
Musical artist
William S. Schnee (born July 4, 1947) is an American musician, music producer, and audio engineer. Schnee has been nominated 11 times for the Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical Grammy Award and worked on a multitude of other Grammy nominated and awarded albums. He has won two Grammys , an Emmy for Outstanding Sound for a Television Special, and a Dove Award . In a 45+ year career of very diverse artists, Schnee has received over 135 gold and platinum records and has recorded/mixed over 50 top twenty singles. [ 1]
Early life Schnee was born in Phoenix, Arizona , where he lived until he was 13. At that time, his family moved to California . Early musical training was in trumpet , saxophone and piano . In 1964, his senior year at Glendora High School , Schnee started a band, The LA Teens, writing songs and playing organ. Immediately after graduation, The LA Teens were signed to Decca Records . When their single releases had little success, the band was dropped, however, they were immediately signed by Mike Curb to work with producer/engineer Richie Podolor . While learning his craft, Schnee attended California State Polytechnic University , majoring in Business. Schnee then started law school at Loyola University , but took a leave of absence in the second semester to continue playing and recording music. Three years after being produced by Podolor, Schnee's big break came when he was hired to engineer in Podolor's studio. On Schnee's third day, Podolor put him in to record two tracks and some overdubs for Three Dog Night . Schnee never returned to law school. [ 2]
Career Schnee was instrumental in launching Sheffield Lab Records and the modern era direct to disc audiophile recordings, when in 1973 he engineered Lincoln Mayorga & Distinguished Colleagues - The Missing Linc, Volume III, and in 1975 he produced and engineered the Thelma Houston and Pressure Cooker album, I've Got the Music in Me . [ 3] These audiophile albums were recorded in real time directly to the phonograph record cutting lathe . Schnee went on to produce several more of the direct to disc albums, including James Newton Howard and Friends , The Drum Record, and The Track Record . [ 4]
Schnee has recorded and mixed with a wide variety of artists that include Steely Dan , Chicago , Ringo (with all the Beatles ), Natalie Cole , Rod Stewart , Dire Straits , Whitney Houston , Carly Simon , The Pointer Sisters , Gladys Knight & the Pips , Barry Manilow , Michael Bolton , The Jacksons , Mark Knopfler , Barbra Streisand , Neil Diamond , Marvin Gaye , George Benson , Bette Midler , and Amy Grant . As a producer, Schnee has worked with Boz Scaggs , Joe Sample , Thelma Houston , Kiki Dee , and launched the careers of Huey Lewis and the News and Pablo Cruise . Schnee has also mixed the bulk of the Japanese mega-star Kazumasa Oda 's albums. [ 5]
Recording studio In 1981, Schnee opened Schnee Studio in North Hollywood . Schnee and his fellow engineers built all of the equipment for the studio, including the discrete recording console and custom tube microphone preamps. The studio has an extensive collection of vintage tube microphones. [ 6]
In 2015, Schnee Studio was sold and merged to become Studio 6 of the adjacent Larrabee Sound Studios . [ 7]
Awards Schnee has been nominated eleven times in the category of Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical , winning twice. [ 8]
1977 Aja – Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical 1981 Gaucho – Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical 1992 Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing For a Variety, Music series, or Special for "Unforgettable, With Love" by Natalie Cole. [ 9] 1995 Praise and Worship Album of the Year for Promise Keepers, Raise the Standard . [ 10] Selected works Over the course of his career, Schnee has worked on over 600 albums [ 5] [ 11] * Grammy Nominated for Best Engineered Album – Non Classical
2015 That Lovin' Feeling – Steve Tyrell – engineer, mixing 2014 My Dream Duets – Barry Manilow – engineer, mixing 2014 Night Songs – Barry Manilow – mixing 2013 It's Magic: The Songs of Sammy Cahn – Steve Tyrell – mixing 2013 My Hope: Songs Inspired by the Message and Mission of Billy Graham – engineer, mixing 2013 New Blood/No Sweat/More Than Ever – Blood, Sweat & Tears – producer 2012 AM/FM – Rita Wilson – engineer 2012 As Time Goes By/Stardust [The Great American Songbook, Vols. 2-3] – Rod Stewart – engineer 2012 I'll Take Romance – Steve Tyrell – engineer, mixing 2011 1 – Julio Iglesias – engineer 2010 The Essential Herb Alpert – Herb Alpert – mixing 2009 Priority/Black and White – Pointer Sisters – mixing 2009 Anything Goes – Herb Alpert – engineer, mixing 2009 Soulbook – Rod Stewart – mixing 2008 Marcus – Marcus Miller – mixing 2008 Still Unforgettable – Natalie Cole – engineer* 2008 Benji Hughes – Benji Hughes – mixing 2008 Encanto – Sergio Mendes – mixing 2007 At the Movies – Dave Koz – engineer 2007 Free – Marcus Miller – mixing 2007 Home at Last – Billy Ray Cyrus – mixing 2006 Romantic Classics – Julio Iglesias – engineer 2005 Bette Midler Sings the Peggy Lee Songbook – Bette Midler – mixing 2005 Altered State – Yellowjackets – engineer 2005 Thanks for the Memory: The Great American Songbook, Vol. 4 – Rod Stewart – Audio engineer, engineer 2005 Twilight of the Renegades – Jimmy Webb – mixing 2004 Just for a Thrill – Ronnie Milsap – mixing 2004 Sheffield Lab Drum and Track Disc – Sheffield Track Record – producer, engineer 2004 Stardust: The Great American Songbook, Vol. 3 – Rod Stewart – engineer, String Engineer 2003 Bette Midler Sings the Rosemary Clooney Songbook – Bette Midler – engineer, mixing 2003 This Guy's in Love – Steve Tyrell – mixing 2003 The Movie Album – Barbra Streisand – mixing 2002 David Clayton-Thomas/Tequila Sunrise – David Clayton-Thomas – engineer, mixing 2002 The Pecan Tree – Joe Sample – producer 2002 The Christmas Album – Johnny Mathis – mixing 2001 Christmas Memories – Barbra Streisand – mixing 2001 On the Way to Love – Patti Austin – mixing 2001 The Disney Album – Michael Crawford – mixing 2000 Absolute Benson – George Benson – mixing* 2000 Fingerprints – Larry Carlton – mixing 2000 Here's to You Charlie Brown – David Benoit , engineer, mixing* 2000 Tomorrow Today – Al Jarreau – engineer, mixing 2000 Tutu/Amandla/Doo-Bop – Miles Davis – mixing 1999 Body Language – Boney James – mixing 1999 The Song Lives On – Lalah Hathaway – producer 1999 Snowbound – Fourplay – engineer 1998 As Time Goes By – Neil Diamond – engineer, mixing 1998 The Movie Album: As Time Goes By – Neil Diamond – engineer, mixing 1997 Artist of My Soul – Sandi Patty – mixing 1997 Greatest Hits – Kenny G – engineer 1997 Vulnerable – Marvin Gaye – mixing 1996 Mandy Barnett – Mandy Barnett – producer 1996 Full Circle – Randy Travis – mixing 1996 In My Lifetime – Neil Diamond – engineer, mixing 1996 Sheffield Jazz Experience – producer 1996 That's Right – George Benson – engineer, mixing 1996 The Sheffield Pop Experience – producer 1995 The Tattooed Heart – Aaron Neville – mixing 1994 Love is Always 17 – David Gates – mixing 1994 Cohen Live – Leonard Cohen – mixing 1994 Tenderness – Al Jarreau – mixing 1993 Citizen Steely Dan – Steely Dan – engineer 1993 Friends Can Be Lovers – Dionne Warwick – mixing 1993 Love Remembers – George Benson – engineer, mixing 1993 Love Songs – Diane Schuur – mixing 1993 Screenplaying – Mark Knopfler – mixing 1993 Starbox – Boz Scaggs – producer 1993 The Sun Don't Lie – Marcus Miller – mixing 1992 Home for Christmas – Amy Grant – mixing 1992 Timeless: The Classics – Michael Bolton – engineer 1991 Hard at Play – Huey Lewis & the News – producer 1991 Healing the Wounds – The Crusaders – mixing 1991 On Every Street – Dire Straits – engineer 1990 Ashes to Ashes – Joe Sample – mixing 1990 Blue Pacific – Michael Franks – mixing 1990 Grand Piano Canyon – Bob James – mixing 1990 Neck and Neck ' – Chet Atkins – mixing 1989 Amandla – Miles Davis – mixing 1989 Last Exit to Brooklyn – Mark Knopfler – mixing 1989 No Holdin' Back – Randy Travis – mixing 1989 Spellbound – Joe Sample – mixing 1988 Get Here – Brenda Russell – mixing 1988 Heart of Mine – Boz Scaggs – producer 1988 Love Songs – David Sanborn – engineer, mixing 1988 Other Roads – Boz Scaggs – producer 1987 Get Close to My Love – Jennifer Holliday – engineer, mixing 1986 Double Vision – Bob James – engineer, mixing 1986 Tutu – Miles Davis – mixing, surround sound 1985 Gettin' Away with Murder – Patti Austin – mixing 1985 James Newton Howard and Friends – James Newton Howard – producer 1985 Take No Prisoners – Peabo Bryson – mixing 1985 Greg Rolie – Greg Rolie – producer 1985 Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston – mixing 1984 Home Again – Judy Collins – mixing 1984 Love Language – Teddy Pendergrass – mixing 1984 In London – Al Jarreau – engineer 1983 Merciless – Stephanie Mills – mixing 1983 Uncle Wonderful – Janis Ian – mixing 1982 So Excited! – Pointer Sisters – mixing 1982 Angel Heart – Jimmy Webb – mixing 1982 Missin' Twenty Grand – David Lasley – producer, engineer, mixing 1982 Stand by the Power – the Imperials – producer, engineer 1982 Chicago 16 – Chicago – mixing 1982 Dreamgirls [Original Broadway Cast Album] – mixing 1981 The Jacksons: Live – The Jacksons – engineer, mixing 1981 Growing Up in Hollywood Town – Lincoln Mayorga and Amanda McBroom – engineer, mixing* 1980 New Baby – Don Randi and Quest – engineer, mixing* 1980 Alibi – America – mixing 1980 Gaucho – Steely Dan – engineer* 1980 Gideon – Kenny Rogers – mixing 1980 Huey Lewis and the News – Huey Lewis & the News – producer 1980 Middle Man – Boz Scaggs – producer 1979 Dr. Heckle and Mr. Jive – England Dan and John Ford Coley – mixing 1979 Stoneheart - Brick – producer 1979 Part of the Game – Pablo Cruise – producer 1979 September Morn – Neil Diamond – engineer, mixing 1978 Leo Sayer – Leo Sayer – engineer 1978 Worlds Away – Pablo Cruise - producer 1978 You Don't Bring Me Flowers – Neil Diamond – mixing engineer, supervisor 1977 If Love is Real – Randy Edleman – producer 1977 A Place in the Sun – Pablo Cruise – engineer, mixing 1977 Aja – Steely Dan – engineer* 1977 Discovered Again – Dave Grusin – engineer, mixing* 1977 I'm Glad You're Here with Me Tonight – Neil Diamond – engineer, mixing 1977 Making a Good Thing Better – Olivia Newton-John – engineer, mixing 1976 Farewell Fairbanks – Randy Edleman – producer 1976 Don't Stop Believin' – Olivia Newton-John – mixing 1976 Endless Flight – Leo Sayer – engineer 1976 Follow My Mind – Jimmy Cliff – mixing 1976 I've Got a Reason – Richie Furay – producer 1975 Breakaway – Art Garfunkel – mixing 1975 I've Got the Music in Me – Thelma Houston – producer, engineer, mixing* 1975 Melissa – Melissa Manchester – engineer, Remixing 1975 Playing Possum – Carly Simon – engineer, Remixing 1974 Goodnight Vienna – Ringo Starr – Audio engineer, engineer, Remixing 1974 Hotcakes – Carly Simon – engineer, Remixing 1974 Lincoln Mayorga & Distinguished Colleagues, Vol. 3 – Lincoln Mayorga – engineer, mixing* 1974 Live! – Marvin Gaye – engineer, mixing 1973 Barbra Streisand...and Other Musical Instruments – Barbra Streisand – mixing 1973 Ringo – Ringo Starr – engineer, mixing 1972 David Clayton-Thomas – David Clayton-Thomas – mixing 1972 LaCroix – Jerry Lacroix – producer 1972 Live Concert at the Forum – Barbra Streisand – engineer 1972 No Secrets – Carly Simon – engineer, mixing* 1971 Barbra Joan Streisand – Barbra Streisand – engineer, mixing Scores for movies and television References ↑ "Bill Schnee Biography" . Bravura Records . Retrieved April 28, 2015 . ↑ Clark, Rick (2010). Mixing, Recording, and Producing Techniques of the Pros ed.). Cengage Learning . ISBN 978-1598638400 ↑ "History of Sheffield—Tale of an Obsession" . Sheffield Lab . Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2016 . ↑ Hoffmann, Frank (2005). Encyclopedia of Recorded Sound Routledge . p. 1912. ISBN 978-0415938358 1 2 Bill Schnee discography at Discogs ↑ Schnee, Bill (December 2010). "A New Venture" . Bravura Records . ↑ "Larrabee Studios, Los Angeles" . www.soundonsound.com . Retrieved August 16, 2021 . ↑ "Grammy Winning Engineer Bill Schnee Talks To Computer Audiophile, Part 1" . Computer Audiophile . November 2, 2010. ↑ "44th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners" . Academy of Television Arts & Sciences . Retrieved April 28, 2015 . ↑ "Past Winners" . GMA Dove Award . ↑ "Bill Schnee Credits" . AllMusic . All Media Network . Retrieved April 28, 2015 . External links
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