On Wednesday, July 23, 2003, the recording industry lost JoeJorgensen, one of its finest engineers.
Born in Gentofte, Denmark, Jorgensen immigrated to Bay Ridge,Brooklyn, with his family in 1951, bringing with him a zest for musicand a talent for technology. During his late teens, he landed his firstjob editing programs at New York’s WOR Radio in 1957. In 1960, he metlegendary engineer/producer Phil Ramone and joined A&R RecordingStudios as one of that studio’s first staff engineers.
Working with many of the industry’s finest composers, arrangers,musicians and artists, Jorgensen developed a recording style thatattracted many clients. In 1966, Jorgensen met Mediasound founder HarryHirsch and joined his staff, recording albums for Frank Sinatra,Englebert Humperdinck and many other major artists including MaynardFerguson’s Gold LP, Conquistador. The celebrated studio became amagnet for young engineers like Michael DeLugg and BobClearmountain.
One of the first engineers to go independent, in 1977, Jorgensenbegan an exclusive relationship with Bob James’ Tappan Zee label. Forover 14 years, this partnership produced an impressive roster of topjazz and rock albums, including Kenny Loggins’ platinumNightwatch and such Gold One on One and Bob James &David Sanborn’s Grammy-winning Gold Double Vision LP.
In 1989, Jorgensen began a new stage of his career with theformation of Soundshine Inc., a company that specialized in the designand installation of innovative professional audio systems for themeparks, houses of worship, schools and commercial facilities.
Jorgensen is survived by his wife of 37 years, Gunvor “Kiki”Jorgensen, his son Mikael, a recording engineer with SomaStudios inChicago, and his daughter Dania.
