Kevin Killen(born October 22, 1959) is aGrammyAward-winning Irishmusic producer,engineer,andmixerknown for his work with recording artists includingU2,Peter Gabriel,[1]Elvis Costello,Tori Amos,Kate Bush,Jewel,Bon Jovi,Shawn Colvin,Shakira,andDavid Bowie.[2][3]

Career

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Killen was studying sciences atTrinity Collegein Dublin, Ireland in 1979 when a friend told him thatLombard Sound Studioswas seeking a trainee. The studio hired him, and was engineering within six months. Two years later, Killen left Lombard Sound to work atWindmill Lane Studios,where he worked for the next four years.[4]He first worked withU2in 1982, assistingSteve Lillywhiteon the band's 1983 albumWar.[4]His work with U2 continued withThe Unforgettable Fire,working with the production/engineering team ofBrian EnoandDaniel Lanois,who Killen would again work with onPeter Gabriel'sSo.[5]

In 1991, Killen co-produced and mixed the original soundtrack to the popularmusic film,The Commitments.

Among Killen's more recent credits include, mi xingSugarland's multi-platinumLove on the Insidefeaturing three chart singles in "All I Want to Do", "Already Gone" and "It Happens", all Number One hits on the Billboard country singles charts. In 2014, he mixedSuzanne Vega's latest releaseTales from the Realm of the Queen of Pentaclesand recordedDavid Bowie'ssingle "Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)"from his release,Nothing Has Changed.

Awards and nominations

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Killen was awarded fiveGrammysfor his contributions toShakira's 2005 albumOral Fixation, Vol. 1.[6]He has receivedGrammynominations for Best Jazz Instrumental Category for his work onAllen Toussaint'sThe Bright Mississippi(2009) and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, forSeth Glier'sThe Trouble With People(2012).[citation needed]In 2013 he received aJuno Awardfor recording and mi xingJohnny Reid'sFire It UpCD as Best Country Album.[citation needed] At the 59th Annual Grammy Awards held in February 2017, Kevin was awarded a Grammy for co-producing and mi xing Yo-Yo Ma & the Silk Road Ensemble’s Sing Me Home for Best World Music Album. In addition, he was awarded theGrammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classicalfor David Bowie’s final studio album –Blackstarand a third Grammy asBlackstartook honour for Best Alternative Music Album.

References

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  1. ^"The Kevin Killen Interview".Input/Output.
  2. ^Howard Massey,Behind the Glass: Top Record Producers Tell how They Craft the Hits, Volume 2(Hal Leonard Corporation,2009),ISBN978-0879309558,pp. 107-113.Excerpts availableatGoogle Books.
  3. ^Maureen Droney,"Kevin Killen: On Recording Peter Gabriel, Elvis Costello, and More"Archived2014-08-14 at theWayback Machine,Mix,May 1999, reprinted in Barbara Schultz, ed.,Music Producers: Conversations with Today's Top Hit Makers(Hal Leonard Corporation,2000),ISBN978-0872887305,pp. 133-142.Excerpts availableatGoogle Books.
  4. ^abDroney, Maureen (1 May 1999)."Kevin Killen: On Recording Peter Gariel, Elvis Costello and More".Mix.Retrieved14 March2024.
  5. ^Farmelo, Allen (September 2008)."Kevin Killen".Tape Op.Retrieved14 March2024.
  6. ^Past winners searchat grammy (accessed 2014-03-27).
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