Culture
18 Nov 20

'Off The Wall' Audio engineer Bruce Swedien dies

Swedien mixed and recorded 'Bad', 'Off The Wall', and 'Thriller'.

Fabled audio engineer Bruce Swedien – who was best known for working with Michael Jackson – has died, age 86.

His daughter, musician Roberta Swedien, shared on Facebook that her father passed away last night (November 16). “He had a long life full of love, great music, big boats and a beautiful marriage,” she wrote. “We will celebrate that life. He was loved by everyone.”

During the time Swedien – whose parents were both classically trained musicians – spent recording legendary artists like Duke Ellington and Dinah Washington, Swedien met Quincy Jones, who asked him to join on Michael Jackson's debut.

“There are not enough words to express how much Bruce meant to me,” Jones said in an Instagram tribute. “ I have always said it’s no accident that more than four decades later no matter where I go in the world, in every club, like clockwork at the witching hour you hear ‘Billie Jean,’ ‘Beat It,’ ‘Wanna Be Starting Something,’ & ‘Thriller.’ That was the sonic genius of Bruce Swedien, & to this day I can hear artists trying to replicate him. I’m going to miss your presence every single day “Svensk”, but I will cherish every moment we shared together laughin’, lovin’, livin’, & givin’... Rest In Peace my brother.”