Doug Sax facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Doug Lionel Sax
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Sax in 2014
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Douglas Sax |
| Born | April 26, 1936 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Died | April 2, 2015 (aged 78) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Mastering engineer |
| Associated acts | Bob Dylan, Barbra Streisand, Leonard Cohen, Pink Floyd, Frank Zappa |
Doug Lionel Sax (April 26, 1936 – April 2, 2015) was a very important American mastering engineer from Los Angeles, California. A mastering engineer is like the final chef for a song or album. They make sure the sound is perfect before it's released to the world. Doug Sax worked on many famous albums. These included three albums for The Doors, like their first one in 1967. He also worked on six albums for Pink Floyd, including The Wall. He helped make Ray Charles' album Genius Loves Company sound amazing in 2004. This album won many Grammy awards. Doug also worked on Bob Dylan's album Shadows in the Night in 2015.
Contents
Early Life and Music
Doug Sax was born in Los Angeles on April 26, 1936. His parents were Mildred and Remy Sax. When he was a student at Fairfax High School, Doug played the trumpet. He even played alongside another famous trumpeter, Herb Alpert.
After high school, Doug went to the University of California, Los Angeles. Later, he joined the Army. From 1959 to 1961, he played the trumpet in the Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra.
A Career in Sound
Doug Sax was always fascinated by how music sounded when it was recorded. Even though he was a talented trumpet player, he found his true calling in sound engineering. On December 27, 1967, he opened a special studio called The Mastering Lab. He started it with his friend Lincoln Mayorga, who was a music arranger. Doug's older brother, Sherwood, who was an engineer, also helped.
One of the first big albums Doug mastered at The Mastering Lab was the first album by The Doors. This album was so important that it was added to the Library of Congress in 2015.
The Mastering Lab used special equipment designed by Doug's brother, Sherwood. This equipment was custom-made, from the tape machines to the sound processors. This unique gear, combined with Doug's amazing ear and skill, helped him have a very successful career. In 1970, Doug and Lincoln also started Sheffield Lab Recordings. This was a special record label that made very high-quality recordings for music lovers.
By 1972, Doug Sax was mastering a huge number of popular albums. About 20% of the top 100 songs in Billboard magazine were mastered by him! Some famous albums he worked on in 1971 include Who's Next by The Who, Sticky Fingers by The Rolling Stones, and the first album by the Eagles.
Throughout his career, Doug worked on thousands of vinyl records. He used his special equipment to make sure every sound was perfect. He mastered many iconic albums, like Pink Floyd's The Wall. He also worked on all Pink Floyd albums up until 2014. Other famous works include the Eagles' Greatest Hits and albums for bands like Slayer and Pantera.
Later Life and Passing
Doug Sax passed away in Los Angeles on April 2, 2015. He was 78 years old and died from cancer.
Awards and Recognition
Doug Sax received many important awards for his amazing work in music.
- 2004 - He received a Technical Grammy Award. This award honors people who have made very important technical contributions to music.
- 2005 - He won a Grammy for Best 5.1 Surround Sound Album for Genius Loves Company.
- 2005 - He also won Album of the Year for Genius Loves Company.
- 2005 - And he won Record of the Year for Genius Loves Company.
TEC Awards Doug was nominated seven times for the TEC Awards, which celebrate excellence in audio production. He won twice:
- 2002 - For Record Production/Album for Look of Love by Diana Krall.
- 2005 - For Record Production/Album for Genius Loves Company by Ray Charles.
He also received a Lifetime Honorary Membership Award from the AES (Audio Engineer Society). This award recognized his long and important career.
A Few Famous Works
Doug Sax worked on hundreds of incredible albums. Here are just a few examples of the many artists and albums he helped to make sound amazing:
- 1967 The Doors - The Doors
- 1971 Sticky Fingers - The Rolling Stones
- 1971 Who's Next - The Who
- 1979 The Wall - Pink Floyd
- 1982 Toto IV - Toto
- 1985 Whitney Houston - Whitney Houston
- 1987 A Momentary Lapse of Reason - Pink Floyd
- 1989 Nick of Time - Bonnie Raitt
- 1994 The Division Bell - Pink Floyd
- 2004 Genius Loves Company - Ray Charles
- 2015 Shadows in the Night - Bob Dylan
