1994

DON WAS

I first became aware of Don Was for his production on two Bonnie Raitt albums, Luck of the Draw and Nick of Time. These were monster pop albums for Bonnie. I loved Don’s production and the fact that he looked like a rock star himself. In fact, he was with his band Was (Not Was). Don was also the producer for one of the biggest bands in the world, the Rolling Stones.

I was asked to help Don when he did a groundbreaking compilation album for MCA.

The album was released in 1994 and called Rhythm, Country & Blues. It meshed R&B with country, and featured such powerhouse collaborations as Lyle Lovett and Al Green, Reba McEntire and Natalie Cole, Gladys Knight and Vince Gill, and Trisha Yearwood and Aaron Neville. I was honored to just be involved in any way so that I could be around his genius. Our involvement in the Rhythm, Country & Blues album also led to our production partnership on Kelly Willis’s self-titled album in 1993.

For this book Don flew out to Nashville from California to be photographed in my chair. He “reeks” of coolness and is the only guy I know who could wear flip-flops with a tuxedo, which I recall he did when he attended the Tennessee Waltz event at the State Capitol.

“Don Was is the epitome of cool.”

Tony Brown

Me, Trisha Yearwood, Aaron Neville, and Don Was recording Rhythm, Country & Blues in New Orleans.

“In addition to being one of the giants of record making, Tony’s also been a dear friend for over thirty years. He generously unlocked the gates to Nashville and showed me how to make records there, which is something I am eternally grateful for. We’ve shared some wild times—VERY wild—times and have had some unforgettable studio adventures.”

Don Was

Me, Don Was, Phil Ramone, Judith Sherman, and Quincy Jones at the NAMM Grammy forum in Los Angeles.