Arif Mardin

27th June 2006

Following a long battle with cancer the acclaimed producer and arranger Arif Mardin has died at the age of 74.  Born in Istanbul, Turkey he graduated from Istanbul University and studied at the London School of Economics.
 
As an accomplished orchestrator he worked on a number of celebrated recordings from the likes of Aretha Franklin, Dusty Springfield, Bee Gees and Norah Jones.  Over the past thirty-six years he has worked with many of the most illustrious artists in the history of contemporary music including The Young Rascals, Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Patti Labelle, Average White Band, Anita Baker, Judy Collins, Phil Collins, Roberta Flack, Hall & Oates, Donny Hathaway, Chaka Khan, Melissa Manchester, Manhattan Transfer, Bette Midler, Modern Jazz Quartet, Willie Nelson, and many more.  His collaborations with the Bee Gees led to the smash hit "Jive Talkin'".  During his thirty-six year career, Arif collected over forty gold and platinum albums, over 15 Grammy nominations and six Grammy awards.

He joined Atlantic Records in 1963 after studying at the Berlee School of Music in Boston.  He stayed with the company until 2001 by which time he had become senior vice president.
He later became co-vice president of EMI’s Manhatten label, which is when he co-produced Jones’ Come Away With Me album.

Mardin is survived by wife, Latife and three children. A memorial service will be held later in the year.