World-renowned Gary Katz gives shout out to "good friend" Mike Ruggelo.

Gary Katz is one of the most famous and prolific music producers in the world. Having signed Jimmy, Buffet, Prince, Rickee Lee Jones, and producing all the Steely Dan Albums, Katz has put a mark on the music industry forerver. As if that wasn't enough, he also produced for Christopher Cross, Diana Ross, Dire Straights and many, many more.

"A lifelong music fan, Katz grew up in New York City listening to Chuck Berry and Fats Domino on a transistor radio. He had friends in the band Jay and the Americans who were his connection to the music business. The band worked with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who produced hit records for the Coasters and the Drifters. After Katz spent time with Leiber and Stoller in the studio, he realized he wanted to be a record producer. His first job after graduating from school was with singer Bobby Darin. Darin admired Bobby Kennedy, and when Kennedy was shot, Darin dropped out of music. Katz found work at Avco Embassy, but two years later the company closed. A friend in Los Angeles who was working for Dunhill Records suggested Katz write a letter to Jay Lasker, the head of Dunhill, to ask for a job. The letter amused Lasker, and he hired Katz.

Katz had a joint venture with Interscope called Jake Records before moving to Warner Brothers as a producer and A&R man, where they enjoyed success as a company and creating new artists. He was one of two people responsible for signing Prince, Dire Straits, Christopher Cross, and Rickie Lee Jones to Warner Bros. He worked at the Burbank offices for six years, then at the New York offices for another four, alongside Jerry Wexler"

John DeChristopher, host of "Live From My Drum Room" Podcast

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