Today, Hugh Padgham was honoured at the Gold Badge Awards for his contributions to the music industry, here we have the tribute made to him by his dear friend, Dennis Muirhead.
In 1992 Hugh Padgham was voted one of the world’s Top Ten Most Influential Producers in the Mix magazine Era -XTC, Phil Collins, The Police, Genesis, Hall & Oates, Sting and Melissa Etheridge.
This was followed by a Tec Award in 1993 for Outstanding Creative Achievement and a Billboard Tribute in 1997. Previously Hugh received four Grammy Awards for producing and engineering, two Brit Award Nominations for Best Producer, a Brit Award for Best Single and a Music Week Award for Best Producer.
The other artists he produced, engineered and/or mixed included David Bowie, The Fixx, Kim Richey, The Human League, Howard Jones, Adam Ant, Joan Armatrading, Paul Young, David Lanz, Youssou N’Dour, Vinnie Colaiuta, Paul McCartney, Julia Fordham, Suzanne Vega, Clannad, Split Enz, Brian Wilson, 311, Mummy Calls, Dominic Miller, Bee Gees, Frida, Mansun and lately McFly and numerous others.
Hugh was responsible for installing the first SSL console in Studio 2 at The Townhouse. He helped develop the SSL on which he created the now famous Hugh Padgham “gated drum sound” for Phil Collins on Peter Gabriel’s third solo album. This led to Phil’s first album “Face Value” and Hugh’s “drum sound” on Phil’s enduring hit “In the Air Tonight”.
Where did this creative genius come from? Hugh’s father was a musicologist and as a teenager Hugh couldn’t stop himself from experimenting with tape recorders and fiddling with the bass. Instead of going to university, he was driven to work in a recording studio. He started at Advision, then Lansdowne before moving on to become Chief Engineer at The Townhouse.
“Face Value” gave Hugh his first producer credit “Produced by Phil Collins, Assisted by Hugh Padgham”! And he didn’t stop there. Monumental albums followed usually as the artist wanted them to sound.
Hugh was always on the look out for new artists. Sheryl Crow gave her demo tape to Hugh in LA. Hugh really liked the demos and took them to David Anderley at A&M Records. David immediately signed Sheryl and she became an international star thanks to Hugh’s A&R sense.
Hugh’s other passion is motor racing. He learnt to drive a single seater; he drives fast cars fast using the brakes sparingly and worked closely in Group C Prototype Sportscars with his dear friend Richard Lloyd until his untimely death last year.
Hugh is one of the few producer names known to the public no doubt after working with such a diverse list of artists. He was responsible for delivering records and managing large recording budgets which takes both creative and business skills. Moreover, Hugh maintained authority in the studio often against impossible odds which he achieved with his “relaxed and disarming personality” so appreciated by artists and labels as the hits piled up.
Hugh has sold well over 250 million records worldwide. He is one of the greatest producer/engineers and mixers of the 20th and 21st centuries. His professional influence continues at his Sofa Sound studio in London and he thoroughly deserves a Gold Badge Award.
