Atlanta-based engineer/mixer Kelly “Dred” Liebelt passed away on June 1, 2005, of a heart attack. Liebelt was the chief engineer at ZAC Digital (Atlanta). Despite having only two years under his belt, Liebelt gained accolades in the local community, as well as a Grammy nomination for engineering on Usher’s multi-Platinum Confessions. Affectionately known as “Dred,” Liebelt was mixing the debut release for rapper Sun N.Y. and had completed mixing the theme music for Bobby Brown’s reality TV show, Being Bobby Brown. Producer Dave Fortman said, “Dred was definitely one of the best ‘listening’ assistants I’ve ever worked with.” Owner/studio manager Jim Zumpano said, “Dred could work with any of my clients, from rock to rap — he really had an uncanny ability to just see the music.”
