Tom Coyne (music engineer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tom Coyne
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Tom Coyne at Sterling Sound
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Thomas J. Coyne |
| Born | December 10, 1954 Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States |
| Died | April 12, 2017 (aged 62) United States |
| Occupation(s) | Mastering Engineer |
| Associated acts | Adele, Backstreet Boys, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Bruno Mars, Demi Lovato, D’Angelo, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Marc Anthony, Sam Smith, Shila Amzah, Taylor Swift |
Thomas J. Coyne (born December 10, 1954 – died April 12, 2017) was a famous American mastering engineer. A mastering engineer is like the final chef for a song or album. They take the finished music and make sure it sounds perfect on all speakers, from headphones to big concert systems. They balance the sound, make it clear, and prepare it for release. Tom Coyne worked on many hit songs for popular artists like Adele, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, and Taylor Swift.
Contents
Early Life and His Journey in Music
Tom Coyne was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He grew up in a nearby town called Union. After finishing high school in 1972, he studied Commercial Design at Kean College.
His first job in the music world was at Dick Charles Recording. There, he watched how records were made and soon started practicing on his own. Later, he worked at Frankford/Wayne Mastering Labs, where he helped create music for legendary groups like The Rolling Stones and Kool & the Gang. His first big hit record was "Ladies Night" by Kool & the Gang.
In 1989, Tom joined The Hit Factory, a well-known music studio. For five years, he mastered many Hip-Hop and R&B songs for artists such as A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul. In 1994, he moved to Sterling Sound, another famous studio. By 1998, Tom and a few other engineers even bought Sterling Sound, showing how important he was in the industry.
Passing Away
Tom Coyne passed away on April 12, 2017, at the age of 62. He died from a type of cancer called multiple myeloma.
Awards and Recognition
Tom Coyne was highly respected in the music industry. He won many awards for his amazing work. During his career, he received ten Grammy Awards and one Latin Grammy Award. He was also nominated for over 35 awards in different categories.
The Grammy Awards are like the "Oscars" for music. They celebrate the best achievements in the music industry each year.
Grammy Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | I Am... Sasha Fierce | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| 2012 | 21 | Won | |
| 2013 | "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" | Record of the Year | Nominated |
| 2014 | The Heist | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| Red | Nominated | ||
| 2015 | Beyoncé | Nominated | |
| In the Lonely Hour | Nominated | ||
| "Stay with Me (Darkchild Version)" | Record of the Year | Won | |
| "Shake It Off" | Nominated | ||
| 2016 | "Uptown Funk" | Won | |
| "Blank Space" | Nominated | ||
| "Can't Feel My Face" | Nominated | ||
| 1989 | Album of the Year | Won | |
| Beauty Behind the Madness | Nominated | ||
| 2017 | 25 | Won | |
| Purpose | Nominated | ||
| "Hello" | Record of the Year | Won | |
| "7 Years" | Nominated | ||
| 2018 | "24K Magic" | Won | |
| 24K Magic | Album of the Year | Won | |
| Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical | Won | ||
| 2019 | Colors | Won |
Latin Grammy Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Ciclos | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| 2012 | Independiente | Nominated | |
| Déjenme Llorar | Nominated | ||
| 2013 | Corazón Profundo | Nominated | |
| "Vivir Mi Vida" | Record of the Year | Won | |
| 2014 | 3.0 | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| Más Corazón Profundo | Nominated | ||
| 2015 | Creo en Mí | Nominated | |
| Sirope | Nominated | ||
| 2016 | Conexión | Nominated | |
| "Duele el Corazón" | Record of the Year | Nominated |
His Studio: Sterling Sound
Sterling Sound, the studio where Tom Coyne worked for many years, is located in New York City. It's on the top floor of the Chelsea Market building in a cool area called the Meatpacking District. The studio was designed by Fran Manzella from FM Design.
Notable Works
Tom Coyne worked on countless albums and songs throughout his career. Here are just a few examples of the many famous artists and albums he helped make sound amazing:
- Britney Spears - ...Baby One More Time (1999)
- Backstreet Boys - Millennium (1999)
- Beyoncé - I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008)
- Adele - 21 (2011) and 25 (2015)
- Taylor Swift - 1989 (2014)
- Bruno Mars - 24K Magic (2016)
