Producer, engineer, and mixer Bob Clearmountain is among the most acclaimed studio kingpins in all of contemporary pop. Influenced by his guitar-playing older brother, he began playing the bass as a teen; fascinated by recording technology from a young age, he also toyed with electronics. While in high school, Clearmountain and his band soon cut a demo at the New York City studio Media Sound, and when the group disbanded a short time later, he returned to the studio in the hopes of landing a job. Initially hired as a delivery boy, he was serving within hours as an assistant engineer on a session for Duke Ellington. Working steadily as an engineer throughout the '70s, he was well-known by the end of the decade in disco circles for his sophisticated work on hit albums from Chic and Sister Sledge; conversely, he also produced material for new wavers including the Rezillos and the Tuff Darts. As the '80s dawned, Clearmountain not only produced up-and-comers like Bryan Adams and the Church, but also engineered records for superstars like David Bowie and Roxy Music.