Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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SZYMCZYK, Bill

(b 13 Feb. '43, Muskegon MI) Producer. Naval radar training led to interest in electronics, part-time job in recording studio while waiting to start student course: he never took it. Apprenticeship from '64 led to first prod. job How To Play Electric Bass '67 by Harvey Brooks; joined ABC as staff producer and prod. albums by B.B. King incl. Completely Well and Indianola, Mississippi; prod. first two LPs for the James Gang, continued with Joe Walsh solo (linking again when Walsh joined the Eagles at his suggestion '75-6). Also with J. Geils Band for The Morning After '71 and their next five LPs; went freelance. Always linked with trad. guitar rock; made name with "heavier' acts but took over prod. Eagles when Glyn Johns left halfway through On The Border '74. Continued with them through '80, also (on the heavier side) Rick Derringer and Jo Jo Gunne '73, Wishbone Ash, Reo Speedwagon '75, Outlaws '77, Elvin Bishop '75-6. Co-prod. with engineer Allen Blazek on several projects, while reverting to his own former role as engineer for Walsh's prod. of Dan Fogelberg's Souvenirs '74. With demise of the Eagles, he broadened scope with tracks for Bob Seger's Against The Wind '80, the Who's Face Dances '81, LPs for Santana '82.