With a staggering credits list that includes Fleetwood Mac, Ozzy Osbourne, Santana, Scorpions, Pat Benatar, Grateful Dead, Foreigner, Rick Springfield, Whitesnake and so many others, producer Keith Olsen made significant contributions to twentieth century rock music. Sadly, Olsen has passed away, leaving behind an impressive body of work that includes over 200 production credits and work on countless hits.
Olsen's work on Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks' seminal 1973 album Buckingham Nicks, which turned into another opporutunity to work with Fleetwood Mac.on their self-titled 1975 album once the duo joined the group.
The acclaimed producer went on to become highly influential in the 1980's heavy metal world, producing Ozzy Osbourne's 1988 album No Rest For The Wicked and several Whitesnakes albums including 1989's Slip Of The Tongue. He also was behind the board for Heart’s Passionworks, Foreigner’s Double Vision, Emerson, Lake & Palmer's In The Hot Seat, and many more
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As the music community at large mourns the loss of another great contributor to its canon, several artists have also posted tributes to the late producer.
Olsen produced international rock superstars Scorpions' 1990 ablum, Crazy World. The band posted a touching tribute to Olsen.
"Keith was a wonderful guy, and the making of Crazy World was such an inspiring journey, containing outstanding songs like 'Wind Of Change' and 'Send Me An Angel,' which had the Keith Olsen touch on every single note. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family. RIP Keith. You live on in the music," they said on Facebook.
Springfield also paid tribute to Olsen on social media in a series of posts, calling out the late producers fiery studio presence, golden ears and uncanny knack for hearing a hit.
“He could be a bit of a pistol in the studio but that was part of his talent," Springfield wrote. "Sticking to his guns when some whiny artist – me – would say, ‘I don’t think that works.’... He didn't produce all those hits for all those musicians for no reason. He had a golden ear and helped so many people reach their potential. I remember playing him my demos and he picked "Jessie’s Girl" out of a batch of 15 songs and said, ‘This is a hit.’ ... I doubted him and thought there were better songs in my demo reel. Proof right there of his gift. May God give your spirit the peace and joy and the rest it deserves. You were a star maker in so many ways. God bless your memory my friend.”
While the cause of Olsen's death has not been revealed, it is clear he will be greatly missed and fondly remembered for the music and friends he made.
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