Cal Harris (engineer)

Calvin Lawrence Harris was an American sound engineer and the head of the recording department at Motown.[1] He worked on projects such as Marvin Gaye's hit album What's Going On,[2] The Beach Boys' single “Good Vibrations”,[3] and Lionel Richie's Grammy award-winning album Can't Slow Down.[4] He is the father of Jazz musician Cal Harris Jr. and programmer/keyboard tech Eric Harris.

Cal Harris (engineer)
Harris in California recording studio
Born
Calvin Lawrence Harris

August 9, 1941 (1941-08-09)
Marshall, Michigan
DiedAugust 14, 2017 (2017-08-15) (aged 76)
California
Other namesCal Harris, Cal "The Blade" Harris, Cal "RE20" Harris
Occupation
  • Record producer
  • director of Motown recording
  • mixing engineer
Awards

Biography

Cal Harris Sr. was born on August 9, 1941, in Marshall, Michigan. He began his musical career at Gold Star Records, as in intern for The Beach Boys. His work for at Gold Star Records gained him the recognition to get hired by Motown Records in the late 1960s. At Motown he became the head of the recording department.

He died on August 14, 2017, in a California hospital due to natural causes.

Working at Motown Records

As the head of the recording department at Motown, Cal Harris Sr. was tasked with managing the team of sound engineers employed by Motown. As well as finding/hiring new engineers[5] and technicians.[6] Within his discography Cal is credited for remix, recording engineer, mixing engineer, and even as a producer on the 1977 album Rarearth[7] by American rock band Rare Earth.

With Lionel Richie, Cal Harris recorded Can't Slow Down, which went on to win the Grammy award for album of the year 1984.[8] Due to the success of the album he was also nominated for a TEC award in 1985.[9]

Cal Harris (far right) attending the 27th Annual Grammy Awards in 1985 with a few of his family members.
Cal Harris (right) remastering Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye with Jeff Glixman in California studio (2003)[10]

Discography

Note: He is credited for working on all of these projects as either: remix, recording engineer, mixing engineer, or producer.[4]

Atlantic Starr

The Beach Boys

G.C. Cameron
  • G.C. Cameron (1976)

Natalie Cole

Commodores

Ada Dyer
  • Meant To Be (1988)

Four Tops

Marvin Gaye

Whitney Houston

Willie Hutch

The Pointer Sisters

Jackson 5

Jermaine Jackson

Eddie Kendricks

Gladys Knight & The Pips
  • A Little Knight Music (1975)

Rare Earth

Lionel Richie

Smokey Robinson

Diana Ross

Rose Royce

David Ruffin

Valerie Simpson
  • Valerie Simpson (1972)

The Supremes

The Temptations

The Undisputed Truth

References
  1. "Motown Record Corp, 197 N.L.R.B. 1255 | Casetext". casetext.com. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  2. Marvin Gaye - What's Going On, retrieved 2022-02-25
  3. "Pet Sounds Session List". albumlinernotes. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  4. "Cal Harris". Discogs. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  5. "Former Motown Producer Arthur Stewart". Spreaker. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  6. "Norman Elder". tapeop.com. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  7. Rare Earth - Rarearth, retrieved 2022-02-24
  8. "Lionel Richie". www.grammy.com. Retrieved 2022-02-24.
  9. "The TEC Awards 1985 Winners". legacy.tecawards.org. Retrieved 2022-02-23.
  10. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (2003-05-31). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
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