David Axelrod Has Died

Legendary producer passes away...

Legendary producer David Axelrod has died, it has been reported.

The musician came of age in Los Angeles' South Central district, infatuated with jazz, R&B, and modern classical music.

Entering the music industry as a producer, his work with Capitol Records drew him towards jazz artists such as Cannonball Adderly, with whom he produced the enormously successful 'Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! Live at 'The Club''.

Tackling 'Mass In F Minor' and 'Release Of An Oath' for the Electric Prunes, his studio ambitions drew on baroque arrangements, jazz improvisation, and funk rhythms.

Two solo albums followed, with 'Songs Of Innocence' and 'Songs Of Experience' matching his wholly distinctive sound to the mystical leanings of William Blake.

Departing Capitol in 1970, David Axelrod's unique approach gradually fell out of favour, and three solo albums recorded in the 1980s went unreleased.

The producer's catalogue became a source of inspiration for hip-hop crate-diggers, with everyone from Dr. Dre to the Beastie Boys sampling his music.

David Axelrod suffered from ill health over the past decade, and reports of his passing sparked a wave of tributes.

Questlove posted a short obituary on Instagram, stating: "So sad to hear about the passing of musician/composer #DavidAxelrod. He was so immersed in creativity and so pure with his arrangements he WAS hip hop. And understood and appreciated hip hop culture."

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