# Val Garay > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Val_Garay > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Val_Garay.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Val_Garay > Source revision: 1327820719 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) American recording engineer and record producer (born 1942) This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous. Find sources: "Val Garay" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Val Garay Born (1942-05-09) May 9, 1942 (age 84) San Francisco, California, U.S. Occupations Recording engineer, record producer Website valgaray.com Musical artist **Val Garay** (born May 9, 1942)[1] is an American [recording engineer](/source/Recording_engineer) and [record producer](/source/Record_producer) who has worked with [Linda Ronstadt](/source/Linda_Ronstadt), [James Taylor](/source/James_Taylor), [Kim Carnes](/source/Kim_Carnes), [The Motels](/source/The_Motels), [Neil Diamond](/source/Neil_Diamond) and others. Garay also co-founded Los Angeles recording studio [Record One](/source/Record_One). ## Career Garay, the son of well-known Latin singer [Joaquin Garay](/source/Joaquin_Garay) and grandson [Joaquin Garay III](/source/Joaquin_Garay_III) grew up in [Burlingame, California](/source/Burlingame%2C_California), where he graduated from [Burlingame High School](/source/Burlingame_High_School_(California)). A songwriter and guitarist, Garay left behind studies at [Stanford University School of Medicine](/source/Stanford_University_School_of_Medicine) to pursue a career as a professional musician.[2] In the mid-1970s, Garay's manager, Michael J. Gruber, introduced him to engineer and producer [David Hassinger](/source/David_Hassinger), founder of [The Sound Factory](/source/The_Sound_Factory) recording studio in Hollywood. Garay was soon engineering recording sessions at The Sound Factory and working with [Peter Asher](/source/Peter_Asher), on albums like Linda Ronstadt's *[Heart Like a Wheel](/source/Heart_Like_a_Wheel)*, James Taylor's *[JT](/source/JT_(James_Taylor_album))*, and [Bonnie Raitt](/source/Bonnie_Raitt)'s *[The Glow](/source/The_Glow_(Bonnie_Raitt_album))*.[3][2] In January 1980, Garay opened his own studio, [Record One](/source/Record_One), in the [Sherman Oaks](/source/Sherman_Oaks%2C_Los_Angeles) neighborhood of [Los Angeles, California](/source/Los_Angeles%2C_California), producing Kim Carnes album *[Mistaken Identity](/source/Mistaken_Identity_(Kim_Carnes_album))* and its Grammy Award-winning song, "Bette Davis Eyes."[3] Garay engineered James Taylor's *[Dad Loves His Work](/source/Dad_Loves_His_Work)* in 1981, and produced [the Motels](/source/The_Motels)' hit album *[All Four One](/source/All_Four_One)* in 1982. Garay has also worked with [Kenny Rogers](/source/Kenny_Rogers), [Ringo Starr](/source/Ringo_Starr), [Mr. Big](/source/Mr._Big_(American_band)), [Eric Burdon](/source/Eric_Burdon), [Dolly Parton](/source/Dolly_Parton), [Queensrÿche](/source/Queensr%C3%BFche), [Dramarama](/source/Dramarama_(band)), [EZO](/source/Ezo_(band)), [Sarah Brightman](/source/Sarah_Brightman), [Nicolette Larson](/source/Nicolette_Larson), [Santana](/source/Santana_(band)), [Reel Big Fish](/source/Reel_Big_Fish), [Joan Armatrading](/source/Joan_Armatrading), [Katrina](/source/Katrina_(musician)), and others. In 1989, Garay sold Record One to Allen Sides, who added Record One to the [Ocean Way Recording Group](/source/Ocean_Way_Recording).[3] In November 2010, he partnered with attorney George Woolverton[4] to form Red Red Records,[5] and he works with up-and-coming new artists as well as produces/engineers scores for motion picture and television projects. ## Awards and recognition In 1982, Garay shared a [Grammy Award for Record of the Year](/source/Grammy_Award_for_Record_of_the_Year) with Kim Carnes, for "Bette Davis Eyes".[6] He has received numerous entertainment industry awards and additional Grammy nominations, including [Best Engineered Recording](/source/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Engineered_Album%2C_Non-Classical) for his work on the James Taylor album *[JT](/source/JT_(James_Taylor_album))* and Linda Ronstadt's *[Simple Dreams](/source/Simple_Dreams)*, a nomination for [Album of the Year](/source/Grammy_Award_for_Album_of_the_Year) for Kim Carnes' *Mistaken Identity*, and a nomination for [Producer of the Year](/source/Producer_of_the_Year).[7] He received an Emmy nomination for Best Engineered Recording of a TV Special for Neil Diamond's *[I'm Glad You're Here with Me Tonight](/source/I'm_Glad_You're_Here_with_Me_Tonight)*, as well as dozens of gold and platinum records. ## Personal life Garay is married to Nicole Dunn, CEO of Dunn Pellier Media, a Los Angeles-based public relations firm for celebrity health and wellness talent.[8] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["ISBN0810376040 - Google Search"](https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=ISBN0810376040). *Google.com*. Retrieved January 22, 2021. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Saxon_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Saxon_2-1) Saxon, Jonathan. ["Val Garay: Linda Ronstadt, Kim Carnes, James Taylor"](https://tapeop.com/interviews/112/val-garay/). *TapeOp.com*. Tape Op. Retrieved November 17, 2021. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Jackson_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Jackson_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Jackson_3-2) Jackson, Blair (September 1, 2003). ["Classic Tracks: Kim Carnes "Bette Davis Eyes""](https://www.mixonline.com/news/classic-tracks-kim-carnes-bette-davis-eyes-425271). *mixonline.com*. Future Plc. Retrieved November 16, 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Red Red Records Sign Worldwide Licensing Agreement for Pop Sensation Katrina's New Single "So Eden" from Her Debut Album "In the Blink of an Eye""](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/red-red-records-sign-worldwide-132000656.html). *Yahoo! Finance*. March 12, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2012. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Val Garay, John Kosh Launch Red Red Records"](http://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=2015765). *Fmqb.com*. November 10, 2010. Retrieved April 5, 2011. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Grein, Paul (March 6, 1982). ["Quincy Jones takes top honors at Grammy Awards"](https://books.google.com/books?id=SCQEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Val+Garay%22+%22bette+davis+eyes%22+grammy&pg=PA74). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. pp. 1, 74. Retrieved May 19, 2010. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Grammy Awards 1982"](https://www.awardsandshows.com/features/grammy-awards-1982-230.html). *Awardsandshows.com*. Retrieved April 24, 2012. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Thank You Val Garay! » Westlake Pro"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160815034246/http://blog.westlakepro.com/thank-you-val-garay/). Archived from [the original](http://blog.westlakepro.com/thank-you-val-garay/) on August 15, 2016. ## External links - [https://www.valgaray.com](https://www.valgaray.com) official website - [Val Garay](https://www.discogs.com/artist/245241) discography at [Discogs](/source/Discogs) Authority control databases International VIAF National Czech Republic Artists MusicBrainz Grammy Awards --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Val Garay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Val_Garay) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Val_Garay?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.