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Arif Mardin, a Smooth Music Visionary

Arif Mardin poses backstage at the Grammy Awards in 2003, when he won the award for producer of the year, non-classical, one of his 12 Grammys.
Mark Mainz
/
Getty Images
Arif Mardin poses backstage at the Grammy Awards in 2003, when he won the award for producer of the year, non-classical, one of his 12 Grammys.

The legendary music producer Arif Mardin, has died. In a long and varied career, Mardin worked with performers ranging from Aretha Franklin to the Bee Gees, and from Chaka Khan to Norah Jones.

In a fickle business where hits and hit-makers come and go like the seasons, Arif Mardin was a rarity: a music producer who kept churning out chart-topping songs for more than four decades.

Mardin's streak began in 1966 with his first hit, "Good Lovin'" by the Rascals.

Born in Turkey, Mardin came to the United States to study music. With Atlantic Records and later EMI, his career was distinguished for its longevity, variety and its success -- even in his later years.

Mardin died Sunday. He was suffering from pancreatic cancer.

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The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.