Chairman of the Board

Those outside the music industry might not immediately recognize his name, but Bill Schnee has worked with so many legendary artists over the past five decades, we’ve all been touched by his influence on American music. 

The multiple GRAMMY and EMMY winner has produced, engineered, or mixed albums for Barbra Streisand, Ringo Starr, Elton John, Neil Diamond, Carly Simon, the Pointer Sisters, Huey Lewis and the News…the list goes on and on. 

His credits include 125 gold and platinum albums and over 100 top 20 singles across the different genres of pop, rock, R&B, country and gospel. He wrote a book encapsulating his extraordinary career that’s aptly titled “Chairman at the Board: Recording the Soundtrack of a Generation.”

The book touches on his journey as a young musician fascinated with “sound” and how that interest guided him toward a career he never imagined. It shares his deep and unique insight into the music industry. It also includes countless behind-the-scenes stories involving many of the artists we’ve loved and admired through the years. 

“Many of the people I’ve met and worked with are so great,” he says. “You’d never know it, but some of these artists are terrific people in addition to being extremely talented.”

Schnee recorded with Barbra Streisand, who has a longstanding reputation of being difficult to work with, but he says the two hit it off from the very beginning. 

"Maybe it was dumb luck because, yes, she is demanding. She knows what she wants, and she has a memory like a steel trap. But I think part of my success in those kinds of situations is I’ve never been afraid to say no. If an artist is going to do something that’s on a high branch and it’s going to saw it off and we’re both going to come tumbling down, I’ll say, ‘I don’t think you should do this and here’s why.’ Someone like Barbra doesn’t want to be told no, but if you explain why you’re saying no, she’ll listen.”

He had the rare opportunity of riding the tour bus with the Jacksons (formerly known as the Jackson 5) and witnessing the frenzied fans’ reaction to Michael Jackson after the soon-to-be King of Pop launched his solo career. And Schnee was front and center for a piece of true music history when he came close to a near Beatles reunion (with three out of the four) when Ringo Starr, George Harrison, and John Lennon all came together in one studio for the Ringo album.

“It was the only time that happened after they broke up,” Schnee says. "I was 24 years old at the time, and all of a sudden, it was like, what just happened? Did I peak? But when you're in the middle of working with artists you don’t think about the fact that they’re famous.”

In addition to sharing his observations of Ringo, George, and John in the studio, he takes readers along as he recounts his visit to George Harrison’s “castle” in England.

Schnee spent most of his career in California, where he designed and ran his own highly innovative, cutting-edge studio for 35 years. Then, seven years ago, he moved to Tennessee. He’s still helping artists shine in the studio and enjoys Nashville’s different, more intimate approach to recording.

“Ninety percent of popular music today is made in a computer where they start with a metronome click and then add everything in and send it around,” he says. “Here, we’re still doing lots of live sessions where all of the musicians get into a room together. And the Nashville music community is just so much more supportive.”

At 77, Schnee says he’s grateful to continue doing what he loves.  

“I’m really blessed, and very aware of how incredible my career has been and continues to be.”

His book "Chairman at the Board: Recording the Soundtrack of a Generation" is available on Amazon. To learn more about Schnee, visit his website at https://www.billschnee.com/.