Alex Sadkin

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Alex Sadkin (c. 1952-1987) is best remembered as a record producer in the early 1980s, but actually got his start as a saxophonist for the Las Olas Brass. He was first trained as a mastering engineer but eventually moved into recording studio work as a "tape-op" (Assistant Engineer) at Criteria Studios, Miami, Florida. Sadkin got his break after impressing Neil Young with his mixing ability, and he eventually became head engineer at Compass Point Studio in Nassau, Bahamas, working alongside Island Records boss Chris Blackwell on many of the label's projects (most famously with Bob Marley). One of the albums he engineered is the Wailer' seminal Rastaman Vibration. Arguably this is one of the tightest, best-sounding albums ever recorded, a milestone of the analogue age.

He then began producing artists for Island Records (Grace Jones, Marianne Faithfull, Robert Palmer, Joe Cocker) whilst doing mixing work for other labels (Talking Heads). Among the artists he produced in the 1980s are Joe Cocker, James Brown, the J. Geils Band, Thompson Twins, Classix Nouveaux, Foreigner, Duran Duran, Simply Red, Arcadia and Paul Haig. He was a mentor to engineer and producer Phil Thornalley (who would go on to work with The Cure, Johnny Hates Jazz, and Natalie Imbruglia).

Sadkin died in a motor accident in Nassau at the age of 35, shortly after completing production work on Boom Crash Opera's eponymous 1987 album, and just before he was due to begin working with Ziggy Marley. The Duran Duran song "Do You Believe In Shame" and Robbie Nevil's Gone Too Soon is dedicated to his memory.