{{for|the American writer|Ben T. Elliott}}{{for|the English footballer|Ben Elliott (footballer)}} {{Distinguish|Ben Elliot}} {{Short description|American record producer (c. 1952–2020)}} {{More citations needed|date=May 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Ben Elliott | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth year|1952}} | birth_place = Morristown, New Jersey | death_date = {{death date|2020|04|05|1952}} (aged 67) | death_place = | occupation = Record producer, audio engineer | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = | awards = | spouse = | website = }}
'''Ben Elliott''' (c. 1952 – April 5, 2020) was an American record producer, audio engineer and co-owner of Showplace Studios in Dover, New Jersey, United States.<ref name="NJArts2020"/> He had been the chief engineer at Showplace since its opening in 1991. Over the years he worked with and assisted top producer/engineers such as Rob Fraboni, Jason Corsaro, Andy Wallace, and Eddie Kramer.
His own record label, American Showplace Music, has released material by Bruce Katz, Akiko Tsuruga, Bob DeVos, Alexis P. Suter, Vanessa Collier, John Ginty, Sean Chambers, The Andy T Band, and Todd Wolfe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://usa.jazznearyou.com/american-showplace-music.php|title=American Showplace Music|website=Usa.jazznearyou.com|accessdate=14 November 2018}}</ref>
==Early life== Elliott was born in Morristown, New Jersey.<ref name="NJArts2020">{{cite web|author=Tom Skevin |url=https://www.njarts.net/pop-rock/ben-elliott-engineer-and-producer-with-a-unique-sound-dies-at-67/ |title=Ben Elliott, engineer and producer with a unique sound, dies at 67 |website=Njarts.net |date=2020-04-07 |accessdate=2020-05-05}}</ref>
==Recording career== Elliott recorded, mixed and produced artists for over 30 years. He was known for his expertise in diverse musical genres, having recorded musicians such as Eric Clapton and Keith Richards (for whom he recorded and mixed "You Win Again," featured on ''Timeless'', the Grammy Award-winning all-star tribute to Hank Williams). Elliott also recorded and/or mixed albums for Leslie West and Mountain, Peter Green, Mick Taylor, Savoy Brown, Jack Bruce, Rory Gallagher among others.<ref name="Credits"/>
===Blues=== In the blues genre, he has made records with Hubert Sumlin, James Cotton, Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Jay Hooks, Paul Oscher, Sean Chambers, and Bob Margolin.<ref name="Credits"/>
===Jazz=== Elliott also worked with jazz artists including Grady Tate, Sonny Fortune and Louis Hayes, and mixed a series of ''Live at the Blue Note'' albums. He worked with R&B musicians Ben E. King, Houston Person, Jerry Jermont, Bill Easley, Bernard Purdie and Wilbur Bascomb, among others, and contemporary bands such as Clutch, Robert Randolph, and the Henry Rollins Band.
==Death== Elliott died on April 5, 2020, at the age of 67, from complications after a year-long battle with cancer.<ref name="NJArts2020" />
==Selected credits== *Savoy Brown feat. Hubert Sumlin – ''Bring It Home'' (1994) *Various Artists – ''Knights of the Blues Table'' (1997) feat. Jack Bruce, Mick Taylor w/ Max Middleton, Peter Green, Mick Jagger, The Pretty Things, Georgie Fame, Maggie Bell w/ Big Jim Sullivan *Leslie West – ''As Phat as It Gets'' (1999) *Savoy Brown w/ Duke Robillard – ''Blues Keep Me Holding On'' (1999) *Miri Ben-Ari – ''Sahara'' (1999) *Jay Hooks – ''Jay Hooks'' (2000)<ref name="Allabout">{{cite web|url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/jay-hooks-jay-hooks-provogue-review-by-ed-kopp.php|title=Jay Hooks: Jay Hooks|website=All About Jazz|date=October 2000 |accessdate=8 April 2018}}</ref> *Clutch – ''Pure Rock Fury'' (2001) *Keith Richards – ''Timeless: Hank Williams Tribute'' (2001) *Savoy Brown – ''Strange Dreams'' (2003) *Various Artists – ''Rattlesnake Guitar: Music of Peter Green'' (2003) feat. Rory Gallagher, Dave Peverett, Harvey Mandel, Ian Anderson, Southside Johnny, Snowy White, Dick Heckstall-Smith *Leslie West w/ Ansley Dunbar, Tim Bogart – ''Blues to Die For'' (2003) *Hubert Sumlin – ''About Them Shoes'' feat. Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, James Cotton, Levon Helm (2004) *Leslie West – ''Got Blooze'' (2005) *Leslie West – ''Blue Me'' (2006) *Mountain w/Leslie West feat. Warren Haynes – ''Masters of War'' (2006) *Ben E. King – ''Ben E. King's White Christmas with Family & Friends'' (2008) *Brother Earth - ' 'The Mixed Signals' ' (2009) feat. Gerry Arias *Sean Chambers – ''Trouble & Whiskey'' (2017) and ''Welcome to My Blues'' (2018)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seanchambers.com/|title="Guitarist Chambers achieves the distinctly American blues/soul/country/rock sound that the Stones used to aspire to long ago." – Jerry Shriver, USA TODAY|website=Seanchambers.com|accessdate=14 November 2018}}</ref><ref name="Credits">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ben-elliott-mn0000134530|title=Ben Elliott - Credits - AllMusic|website=AllMusic|accessdate=18 November 2018}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Other sources== *Birnbaum, C (2000, November). "The Music Man", ''New Jersey Monthly''
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Elliott, Ben}} Category:1952 births Category:2020 deaths Category:Record producers from New Jersey Category:American audio engineers