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Jon Fausty

{{Short description|American audio engineer and producer (1949–2023)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}

{{Infobox musical artist

|name = Jon Fausty

|image =

|caption =

|birth_date = {{birth date|1949|2|20}}

|birth_place = Westchester County, New York, U.S.

|origin =

|death_date = {{death date and age|2023|9|29|1949|2|20}}

|death_place =

|genre = Salsa

|occupation = Audio engineer, producer

|years_active = 1964–2022

|label = Fania Records

|website =

}}

Jon Evan Fausty (February 20, 1949 – September 29, 2023) was an American multiple Grammy Award-winning sound and recording engineer best known for his work on some of the most successful Latin albums ever recorded.{{cite book |last=Muriel |first=Tommy |date=2016 |title=Fania All-Stars: Salsa, Inc. [Cuatro décadas (y pico) de Nuestra Cosa Latina]|location=N.p. |publisher= Biblio Services, Inc. |page=220 |isbn=9781618872364}}

{{cite book |last=Smith |first=Warren |date=2011 |title=In the Heart of Showbiz A Biographical Triography of Variety Recording Studio, of Fernando Vargas and of Warren Allen Smith · Volume 1 |location=New York |publisher=chelCBooks |page=48 |isbn=978-1257042524}}

Fausty's career spanned over six decades. He designed studios, produced and engineered recordings throughout the United States, Canada, Cuba and Europe {{cite book |last=White |first=Bob |date=2012 |title=Music and Globalization: Critical Encounters

|location=Bloomington and Indianapolis |publisher= Indiana University Press |page=121 |isbn=9780253223654}}- both in studio and live performances.

Early career

Born in Westchester, New York, of Russian and Hungarian Jewish ancestry, Fausty “helped shape the sound of Latin music.” {{cite book |last=Lapidus |first=Benjamin |date=2020 |title=New York and the International Sound of Latin Music, 1940-1990 (American Made Music Series) |location=Jackson |publisher= University Press of Mississippi |page=232 |isbn=978-1496831293}} Fausty originally wanted to be a radio disc jockey but became interested in sound engineering after a chance visit in 1960 to Mirasound Studios in Manhattan. The engineers allowed him to watch and learn. His first job was at Groove Sound studios where he became Wiley C. Brooks' assistant. After Brooks left, Fausty became the chief engineer at 18 years old. He remained at Groove Studios for one year.

His first Latin recording was for the Cesta All-Stars at Groove Sound. New to Latin music and Latin instruments, he thought that he had botched the recording. He next went to Delta Studios, where he recorded jingles and commercials – and this is where he honed his skills. While at Delta, he recorded an album with Willie Rosario, Charlie Palmieri and Manique. These recordings allowed him to learn the “mathematics” of the salsa sound (clave & tumbao).{{cite book |last=Byrne |first=David |date=2017 |title=How Music Works |location=New York |publisher=Three Rivers Press |page=186 |isbn=9780804188937}}

Later career

After a chance meeting with Larry Harlow at a friend's jam session, Harlow would later call Fausty and ask him to audition at Good Vibrations Sound Studios (formerly RKO Sound Studios) which was owned by Fania Records. Out of approximately 40 candidates Fausty was hired. Fausty was instrumental in fitting the studio with the latest technology including a retractable ceiling designed specifically to isolate the percussion sections from interfering with other aspects of the recording.{{cite magazine |last=Gurza |first=A. |date=November 13, 1976 |title=Fania Finds The Perfect Studio |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ryQEAAAAMBAJ&dq=jon+fausty&pg=PT37|magazine= Billboard |access-date=February 4, 2023}}

Fausty recorded with Willie Colón, Héctor Lavoe, Ray Barretto, Johnny Pacheco, La Sonora Ponceña, Roberto Roena, Cheo Feliciano, the Lebrón Brothers, Ismael Miranda, Larry Harlow, Típica 73, Fania All-Stars, Bobby Valentin, Javier Vazquez, Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez, Mon Rivera, Tommy Olivencia, Kako, Mongo Santamaría, Lalo Rodríguez, Simon Perez, Rocky Pagán, Joe Cuba, Puerto Rico All Stars, La Lupe, Diego Melón, El Gran Combo, Willie Rosario, Johnny "Dandy" Rodríguez, Jerry González, Eddie Palmieri, Kip Hanrahan, Jack Bruce, Milton Cardona, Roberto Torres, Conjunto Clásico, Daniel Ponce, Los Van Van, David Burn, Angel Canales, Christie Mcfol, Astor Piazzolla, Justo Betancourt, Johnny Ventura, Louie Ramirez, Bobby Rodriguez, Papo Vázquez, Munequitos de Matanzas, Tito Puente, Hilton Ruiz, Bronx Horns, Orlando Valle, Paquito D'Rivera, Yomo Toro, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Chucho Valdés, Manny Oquendo, Puerto Rican Power, Grupo Niche, Chico O'Farrill, George Benson, Jack Bruce, Vocal Sampling, Tito Nieves, Fernando Villalona, Víctor Manuelle, Luis "Perico" Ortiz, Los Vacillos, Esau Delgado, Angel Melendez, Machito Rivera, Ralphy Leavitt, among others.{{cite web |last1=Fausty |first1=Jon |author1-link=Pete Nader |title=Jon Fausty Exclusive Interview for Salsa Legends And Masters Academy |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehX6FE1HKis |publisher=Salsa Legends And Masters Academy |language=en |format=video |date=2017}}

Fausty had thousands of recordings {{cite book |last=D'Rivera |first=Paquito |date=2008 |title=My Sax Life A Memoir|location=Evanston |publisher= Northwestern University Press |page=110 |isbn=9780810125247}} of which 18 have been awarded Grammy Awards. He won Grammys with Chucho Valdés, Celia Cruz, Rubén Blades, Marc Anthony.

Death

Fausty died on September 29, 2023, in Tampa Florida at the age of 74.{{cite news |title=Murió Jon Fausty, considerado padre del sonido Fania |url=https://www.salserisimoperu.com/murio-jon-fausty-considerado-padre-del-sonido-fania-noticia-29-09-2023/ |access-date=30 September 2023 |publisher=Salserismo Peru |date=29 September 2023}}

Selected discography

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References

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External links

{{Commons}}

  • {{AllMusic|class=artist|id= jon-fausty-mn0000212148}}
  • {{discogs artist|Jon Fausty}}
  • {{IMDb name| 2379592}}

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{{Portal bar|Biography|Music|Latin music|Record production|New York City|United States}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fausty, Jon}}

Category:1949 births

Category:2023 deaths

Category:American audio engineers

Category:American record producers

Category:Latin Grammy Award winners

Category:Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners

Category:Salsa

Category:Grammy Award winners

Category:American people of Russian-Jewish descent

Category:American people of Hungarian-Jewish descent

Category:People from Westchester County, New York