Steve Sykes

>home

producer/engineer/mixer

History: Originally hailing from Philadelphia, Steve started his career as session guitarist and member of various bands with such greats as Stanley Clarke and John Oates (Hall & Oates fame), to name a few. In 1970, he moved to Colorado where he did jingle work while continuing to play live with a band that included Philip Bailey and Larry Dunn, who went on to become part of “Earth Wind & Fire.” After a stint of sessions at the legendary Caribou Ranch Studios, he headed out west to L.A. Within a year he was one of the top session players working on albums for Dusty Springfield, Nick Gilder, Manfred Mann, Bernie Taupin, producer Phil Spector and even a stint as a player for the TV soap “Days of Our Lives.” Steve credits producer Mike Chapman (Blondie, The Knack, Suzie Quatro, Lita Ford etc.) for sparking his interest in what was going on, on the other side of the glass, in the control room. Mike was only too happy to encourage Steve’s budding engineering talents. After a year or so of wearing both hats as engineer and session player, Steve took the plunge and became a full time engineer and mixer working with The Isley Brothers, Angela Winbush, Stanley Clarke and Brenda Russell, to name a few. He also became involved in the film and TV recordings, by becoming the music mixer for the TV show “Miami Vice”, which was recognized for it’s innovative music and sound quality. Other films included “Prince of Egypt”, “Passenger 57”, “Boyz N’ The Hood”, “What’s Love Got To Do With It”, “Poetic Justice” etc. Steve has also been heavily involved in recording and mixing for the Latin market with such artists as Thalía, Enrique Iglesias, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, Luis Fonsi, Ednita Nazario and Maria Conchita Alonso.

Current Credits: More recently, Steve has become known as an alternative/rock producer in Spain with number one albums and singles at the top of the airplay charts. But here in the U.S., he is better known as one of the premier mixers and engineers in the Smooth Jazz markets. He currently has four albums in the Contemporary Jazz
charts top twenty: Jeff Golub, David Benoit, David Lanz and Peter White. He has been in the studio recently recording and mixing for the Verve/GRP 20th Anniversary album and is about to start the new Rick Braun album this month. “I always feel it’s important to embrace new technology”, says Steve, “it’s what drives the industry, and I’m as happy whizzing through editing on my Pro Tools system as I am cutting 2 inch tape”.

Contact:

e-mail: Steve Sykes

web: SteveSykes.com