news category Music Industry created 26 July 2014
Dave Harries, Bob Hine, Ken Townsend
It is with sadness and respect the we announce the passing of Bob Hine, one of the founders of the original Music Producers Guild, known as The British Record Producer’s Guild.
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“Margaret Hine phoned me to-day to say “Sir Robert” has passed away. after a long two year struggle with Cancer.They had been living in New Milton and he is being put to rest at Bournemouth Crematorium on Tuesday 5th August at 1.30. Bob’s instructions were no black for his departure. Afterwards at Cliff House Hotel Bournemouth. Sad news.”
“I am very sad to hear the news that the inimitable, unstoppable and unforgettable force of nature that was Bob is no longer with us. His absolute passion for standards and quality in the music he loved drove his mission to make record production into a recognised and definable profession. Without Bob’s tireless persuasion and energy there would be no Music Producers Guild. There would be no studio producer courses at Universities. There would be no standards in recording quality, mixing quality, mastering quality, music carrier quality. He is simply one of the most important figures in professional music recording of the last 50 years.
A charming, funny, witty, persuasive man with no ego and the only person I actually enjoyed being bullied by! Fondly remembered and sadly missed.”
“Bob was the driving force – and quite a bit of BASF’s money – behind the launch of the British Record Producers Guild.”
“So sad to hear that Bob has passed away.
I met Bob in the boardroom of BASF in Wembley in 1987 at a meeting of the British Record Producers’ Guild, an august body of esteemed and famous heroes and aspiring recording professionals whom Bob had assembled under the APRS umbrella. Bob had the vision to see that the producer was key to the recording process, not least because of the decision of which tape to use, but more generally as having an active finger on the pulse of new recording technology and talent.
Without Bob there would be no BRPG, Re-Pro, MPG or even P&E Wing.
The concept of having an organisation that represents studio producers was of his making. He caused the BRPG to be formed, generously offering the BASF HQ as a venue for its meetings along with its corporate hospitality for those who attended. He chaired the meetings, gently corralling the herd of diverse mavericks into a body worthy of respect and notice so that issues of mutual interest such as GVL income could be explored and developed on a joint basis. He encouraged manufacturers to believe that producers are the most important decision-influencing contributors in the recording supply chain who should be acknowledged and supported – and he put BASF’s money where his mouth was, opening the door to industry-wide sponsorship and member benefits.
My lasting memory of Bob is at an APRS exhibition, actually, every APRS exhibition, where his BASF responsibilities required him the circulate the booths of all his friends and colleagues enjoying their hospitality as he went. Few people could have attracted and sustained such ardent affection and conviviality. A character that will be sorely missed.”
