Record producer Jay David Sacks, who died last month, left behind a rich and unique legacy that spanned the worlds of classical music and Broadway cast albums. But it all started as a member of a “one-hit wonder” band that had a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.
Saks died on November 16 from causes related to Parkinson’s disease. He was 79 years old.
Between 1983 and 2014, Saxophone won 13 Grammy Awards, 8 for Classical Music and 5 for Broadway Actor Albums.
He has won four awards for Best Opera Recording, all for his work with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra/Metropolitan Opera Chorus. he won Verdi: La Traviata Opera recordings; Adams: Doctor Atomic; Wagner: The Ring of the Nibelungs and Hades: Tempest.
He won five awards for Best Musical Theater Album for Cast Album into the woods and Jerome Robbins’ Broadway and revival Guys and Dolls, Chicago and Gypsy.
In addition, Sacks won two Daytime Emmy Awards, both for his work on Great show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He received Outstanding Individual Achievement in any Field of the Performing Arts – Audio (1983) and Outstanding Individual Achievement in the Performing Arts – Audio (1984).
Sacks was born in New York City and grew up in the Bronx. His sister is cellist Toby Sachs.
In the 1960s, Saks played bass guitar in The Balloon Farm, which reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1968 with the psychedelic pop/rock song “A Question of Temperature” 40 people. Sachs isn’t the only member of Balloon Farm to have found success in the industry. Member Mike Appel managed Bruce Springsteen from 1972-75 and co-produced his first three albums. Their only hit song was produced by Peter Schekeryk, who later produced hits for his wife Melanie, including the Hot 100 “Brand New Key.”
Saxophone attended the Juilliard School and continued his studies at the Mannes School of Music, graduating in 1970.
As an audio producer for CBS Masterworks, RCA Red Seal (RCA Records), Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) and Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Saks was responsible for the engineering and mastering of hundreds of titles.
Since 1980, Saks has recorded and produced more than 1,600 television broadcasts, radio broadcasts and live high-definition transmissions in partnership with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.
Between 1977 and 2018, Sachs received 53 Grammy nominations. He has been nominated for Classical Music Producer of the Year ten times but has never won in that category.
Sacks’ other acting album nominations (in addition to his five wins) are From Here, From Here, Anything Is Possible, The Assassin, Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying! (for two different recordings), Cabaret, Fosse, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Man of La Mancha, Avenue Q – The Musical and Color purple.
Saks is also nominated for Best Score Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media. Fantasia/2000.
Saks was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 2007 as an audio producer for PBS – providing outstanding mixing for a variety show, musical or special The Magic Flute (a great show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art).
An avid runner, Sacks completed one of the earliest New York City Marathons.
Saks is survived by his wife, Linda Saks; their two sons, Jeremy Saks and Greg Saks; and three grandchildren: Bo Saks, May Li Saks and Ben Saks.
