“BASSY” BOB BROCKMANN Biography
Who the f*ck is Bassy Bob?
Bob Brockmann, commonly known as “Bassy” Bob, is an influential figure in the music industry. He is primarily recognized for his work as a mix engineer and record producer. His career, spanning several decades, has been marked by collaborations with diverse artists and contributions to numerous award-winning records.
Bob Brockmann began his career in the late 1980s and early 1990s, during which he quickly made a name for himself in the music industry. Bassy cut his teeth in New York City in the late 80s, and by the time he was 21, he had three global hits under his belt: Debbie Gibson’s Only in My Dreams, The Promise by When in Rome, and Ain’t Nuthin Goin’ on but the Rent with Gwen Guthrie.
Following in quick succession were collaborations with Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Prince, Mary J Blige (My Life), and Lauryn Hill of the Fugees (“Killing Me Softly”). In his 30 years of mixing, producing and writing, Bassy has touched almost every genre of music, from reggae (Jimmy Cliff, Black Uhuru), country/folk (Faith Hill, Bob Dylan, Dixie Chicks) to R&B (Babyface, Brian McKnight), hip-hop (The Notorious BIG, Jay Z, Talib Kweli), pop (TLC, Christina Aguilera), dance, gospel, electronic, and funk.
His distinctive style and expertise in mixing and sound engineering (he describes it as an organic, non-technical approach to mixing and producing) allowed him to work across various genres, including R&B, hip-hop, jazz, and pop. This versatility has been a hallmark of his career, enabling him to adapt to the evolving musical landscape.
Brockmann’s work is noted for its clarity, depth, and dynamic range, making him a favorite among artists and music labels. He has worked with a plethora of notable artists, such as the Notorious B.I.G., Christina Aguilera, Mary J. Blige, and D’Angelo. His contribution to D’Angelo’s critically acclaimed album “Voodoo” is especially celebrated; the album is often cited as a neo-soul masterpiece.
As a musician, Bassy Bob co-founded the seminal acid jazz supergroup Brooklyn Funk Essentials in 1993, which continues to tour globally. His jazz production credits include notable records for Tony Williams (“Native Heart,” “Story of Neptune”) and Herbie Hancock (“Possibilities”).
Over his career, Brockmann has received numerous accolades, including multiple Grammy Awards (over 50 Grammy award nominations — 3 for Best Engineered Album — and has been awarded over 25 associated Grammys for mixing and production). These awards underscore his skill and dedication to the craft of music production and engineering. His Grammy recognition often highlights his ability to enhance the intrinsic qualities of the music, ensuring that each element within the mix is placed for optimal impact.
In addition to being recognized by industry peers for his technical skills, his collaborations have been overwhelmingly commercial triumphs. More than 30 of Bassy’s productions have tracked in the Top 10 of Billboard’s HOT 100. Bassy has been instrumental in the careers of many collaborating producers, including Puff Daddy, Chucky Thompson, LA Reid, Babyface, Surface, David Gamson, Trevor Horn, and Kanye West.
Along with Bassy’s impressive work in the studio, Brockmann is also committed to education and mentorship within the industry. He has been involved in various educational initiatives and workshops, aiming to share his knowledge and experience with upcoming audio engineers and producers.
This educational aspect of his career reflects his belief in the importance of nurturing new talent and sustaining the music industry’s future.
Another side of Bassy is that of an entrepreneur, Bob has formed several successful start-ups, including The Haus, and Murmrr.
Bassy has worked with an interdisciplinary team on the NftyTunes project for the past few years. NftyTunes has evolved into Momnts.live, a platform designed to empower artists to sell digital content and physical merchandise directly to fans, fostering a one-to-one relationship between artists and their audience.
Bassy is also one of the lead developers of the spatial platform Mach1.
While in New Orleans during COVID, Bassy started MUSOS, a full-service, one-stop film and TV licensing and publishing company, the first of its kind in Louisiana.
In 2023 “Bassy” Bob started the build out of Los Depressos Production facility in Brooklyn, NY.
Today, “Bassy” Bob Brockmann remains a respected and influential individual in music production and sound engineering. His enduring career serves as a testament to his talent and his continuous drive to push the boundaries of audio engineering.
2009 May — Gearspace.com — Learn to mix with Ryan West and Bassy Bob!Multi-Platinum, Grammy winning mixers Bassy Bob and Ryan West, in association with Legacy Recordings announce the third Elements of Mixing Workshop. . .
gearspace.com – 389718-learn-mix-ryan-west-bassy-bob.html
2009 – bassybob.blogspot — the Producer’s always right…There’s an old saying in business…the customer is always right. I’ve been having an ongoing discussion with some of my younger fellow engineers about studio demeanor, bedside manner, what ever you want to call it. The demise of the traditional studio system has left many young engineers and mixers wondering what they should be saying, or not saying in the control room. Many think that the producer they are working with is “an idiot, doesn’t know anything about music, or worse, doesn’t care.”. . .
web.archive.org/bassybob.blogspot.com/2009/05/producers-always-right.html
2010 August — Pitch Artist Services Facebook Video“Bassy” Bob Brockmann talks with B.J. Jansen about how the industry has changed and the importance of a great mix.
Part 1: https://fb.watch/sae7uvgZYl/ 14 Min
Part 2: https://fb.watch/sae31PQ0h-/ 14 min
2011 — The Big Idea — Gem (and Grammy) CollectingGrammy award winning music producer and engineer ‘Bassy’ Bob Brockmann shares some of his lessons learned and future thinking with Ande Schurr. Bob talks about engaging an audience, the role of music and succeeding in the industry. “There are many pathways to success and there’s no formula for success.” . .
thebigidea.nz/stories/gem-and-grammy-collecting
2013 June – SonicScoop — Elements of Mixing with Bassy Bob: The Decapitator – Small But Mighty Mix ToolOn the most recent album I was mixing , I really discovered some incredible uses for the Decapitator, a saturation plug made by SoundToys.
SoundToys had me at EchoBoy which was another go-to plug that I still use every day. The thing that sets their plugs apart from so many that I’ve used is that they have an “analog feel” to them. . .
sonicscoop.com/elements-of-mixing-with-bassy-bob-the-decapitator-small-but-mighty-mix-tool/
2014 JAN — YouTube — Elements of Mixing #1 – Inspecting tracks with @bassybobQuick tutorial on inspecting tracks at beginning of mix, learning the parts, so you can quickly identify them when you begin balancing the parts. Bassy bob is a multi platinum and multiple Grammy winning mixer and producer. his credits include chat toppers like Jay Z, Kanye, Christina Aguilera, Biggie, Fugees, and TLC. . .
youtu.be/14NvZVFiyEQ
2014 May — ProSoundWeb — In The Studio: An Interview With “Bassy” Bob BrockmanCatching up with an engineer with more than 30 Grammy nominations talks about plug-ins, processing and more… “Bassy” Bob Brockman has a wide range of awards and credits, including more than 30 Grammy nominations with two wins, and an Oscar nomination. His many credits include Mary J. Blige, Toni Braxton, Brian McKnight, Faith Hill, Korn, Christina Aguilera, P Diddy, Santana, and Sting among many others. In this excerpt from The Mixing Engineer’s Handbook 3rd edition, Bob discusses what he uses for plug-ins and his use of the mix bus compressor.
prosoundweb.com/in-the-studio-an-interview-with-bassy-bob-brockman/
2014 May — YouTube — INN – Special Interview – Bob BrockmanDiana Barnes of Suede Management & INN and C Bret Campbell Middle Tennessee Music & INN spoke with “Bassy” Bob Brockman, in a live Hangout on Air! Bob is a veteran of the music industry, with hundreds of mixing credits on top selling albums from nearly every genre of music. . . Bob’s credits range from Christiana Aguilera and Biggie Smalls to Herbie Hancock and Sting, Faith Hill and Santana, so you know you don’t want to miss this one! We owe big thanks to Bob, who produced the music for the trailer, “Never Had Enough.”
www.youtube.com/live/zzDhbMIEB0c
2014 June — Yahoo! Finance —“Bassy” Bob Brockmann is an American music mixer and record producer. His signature mixes and production can be heard on hits with Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Kanye, Notorious BIG, Christina Aguilera, the Fugees and Bob Dylan among many others. He is a two-time Grammy winner and has over 30 nominations. In addition to his success as a mixer, Bob also lectures regularly on technique with his Elements of Mixing seminars. He also appears regularly at Canadian Music Week, New Music Seminar and other influential conferences to discuss music related issues. “Bassy’s” work as a consultant led him to Mongolia where he worked on the social media campaign “I am Mongolia” with Leveious Rolando. . . .
finance.yahoo.com/news/2-music-appoints-bassy-bob-170000326.html
2014 – YouTube Producer/Mixer “Bassy” Bob Brockmann – Pensado’s Place #189Producer/Mixer “Bassy” Bob Brockmann (The Fugees, Notorious BIG, Mary J Blige) joins Dave and Herb on the 189th episode of Pensado’s Place!
https://youtu.be/bgVFPhbJ4HA?si=ZykiWawMP15_zd-b
2015 — NYC Event: BMS’ “The Independent Artist as a Startup”BMS will delve into the concept of mapping an artist’s career as a business and embracing an entrepreneurial spirit in fundraising and online promotion and distribution.
sonicscoop.com/nyc-event-bms-the-independent-artist-as-a-startup-thursday-528/
2015 — SonicScoop — Wendy Starland: On Protecting Producers, Bands & Brands, & Bringing Up Lady Gaga by BassyWendy Starland exudes the ideal of the modern entrepreneurial recording artist. She is also famous for having discovered and developed Lady Gaga at NYC’s famed venue The Cutting Room – a fruitful relationship that led to regular songwriting collaborations for years to follow. . .
sonicscoop.com/wendy-starland-on-protecting-producers-bands-brands-and….
2017 May — Facebook VideoMIXED BY: Bob “Bassy” Brockman and PYRMDS
PERFORMED BY: PYRMDS (vocals, synths, drum programming, sampling, guitars) Justina Valentine (vocals) Guylaire (vocals) David “LD” Jamison (live drums)
PUBLISHED BY: Jack the Giant Inc Music Publishing (ASCAP) and Incredible Minds Publishing (BMI)
fb.watch/sahrKEw-6v/
2017 June — Facebook VideoMix: Bob “Bassy” Brockman and PYRMDS
The making of this video involved numerous trips across state lines (at least one in a blizzard), a tire blow out, thermal mylar survival blankets put to use, blood (real and fake), scars (real), hundreds of pounds of powder (not that kind), smoke bombs, on site medics, an MMA fighter. a Thai fighter, my son Jack, and a lot of passion. PLEASE WATCH IN HD. (click first icon on the bottom right that looks like a circle/gear; and then click 1080). Shares are greatly appreciated. . .
https://fb.watch/sahVSceMhq/
2017 October — Facebook VideoWater Seed live at the Blue Nile New Orleans.
Mix and Mastered – Bassy Bob Brockman
Recorded: August 19, 2017 Location: Blue Nile New Orleans — Music: Lou Hill — Lyrics: Lou Hill, Berkley the Artist and Cinese — Arrangement: Lou Hill and J Sharp — Horn Arrangement: Kenneth Hagans, Cinese and Lou Hill |
Lou Hill – Drums and Vocals | J Sharp – Keys, Organ and Vocals | Cinese – Flute and Vocals | Shaleyah – Percussion and Vocals
https://fb.watch/sahmMPaFnp/
2017 — Focusrite — GRAMMY®-Winning Mixer/Producer“Bassy Bob” Brockmann Employs the Clarett 8Pre Audio Interface from Focusrite as an Indispensable Part of His Mixing Workflow
clynemedia.com/Focusrite/BassyBob/Focusrite_BassyBob.html
2016 — The 13th Floor — Bassy Bob Brockmann on David BowieGrammy Award-winning mixer and producer “Bassy” Bob Brockmann was in Auckland recently and stopped by The 13th Floor for an interview with Marty Duda. Mr Brockmann is known for his work with the likes of The Fugees, Notorious BIG, Christina Aguilera, Mary J Blige and Faith Hill. As it turns out, Bassy Bob, who is based in New York City, spends quite a bit of time working at a studio called The Magic Shop, the very same studio where David Bowie recorded Blackstar. The two men’s paths crossed a few times last year and so, upon learning of the death of Mr Bowie, “Bassy” Bob Brockmann offers up his thoughts and insights into the work of David Bowie. . .
13thfloor.co.nz/bassy-bob-brockmann-on-bowie
Original Archived: archive.org – 13thfloor.co.nz – bassy-bob-brockmann-on-david-bowie/
Listen: brockmann-bassy-bob-on-bowie-2016.mp3
2020 OCT — Youtube — In the Studio with Naughty Professor & Bassy BobExec Producers – Bassy Bob, Mike Novak • Producer – Bassy Bob, Director – Cary Romanoff • Mixed by Bassy Bob
Naughty Profesor: Sam Shahin – Drums, Noah Young – Bass, Bill Daniel – Guitar, Nick Ellman – Alto Sax, John Culbreth – Trumpet, Ian Bowman – Tenor Sax
Filmed & Recorded at The Parlor Studio / New Orleans 2019
youtu.be/IfzKsV1ovk0
2022 — The Gambit“Bassy” Bob Brockmann is a New Orleans-based record producer and mixer who has worked with the Fugees, Toni Braxton, and Biggie, as well as local artists like Dumpstaphunk and Ivan Neville. He also mixed Cha Wa’s “My People,” which was nominated for a 2022 Grammy. The following Q&A has been edited for brevity. . .
nola.com/gambit/music/the-gambit-interview-bassy-bob-brockmann/article
“Bassy” Bob Brockman has a wide range of awards and credits, including more than 30 Grammy nominations with two wins, and an Oscar nomination. He’s very much of the “old school/new school” in that his formative years as an engineer were spent in the analog world, but he’s quite at home in the current digital one as well. In this interview taken from the 4th edition of my Mixing Engineer’s Handbook, Bob describes his mixing process.
bobbyowsinskiblog.com/bob-brockman/
