A failed architect, Jonathan drifted into the music business as a session keyboard player. He then signed as a writer to Warner Chapel and misspent his time playing jazz piano and appearing in various local bands. When Barclay records in Paris needed a producer for one of their artists he was ‘volunteered’ for the job. Making the record in Sheffield he started collaborating with Kevin Bacon. He then wrote and together they produced a record for Electra records and so began an enduring and successful partnership.Bacon and Quarmby, as they have become known, have spent almost 20 years producing records and developing artists – achieving both Grammy and Brit awards. Constantly re-defining their production genre, they have worked with artists as diverse as Finley Quaye, Suger Babes,, Pretenders, Beth Rowley, David Bowie, Richard Hawley and Ziggy Marley. In recent years they have consulted for Nick Gatfield at Island Records and developed joint venture businesses with Universal Publishing and TVT.Having previously been based in Sheffield, in 2004 they moved into RAK Studios in London where they are now based.Jonathan was an early adopter of contemporary sequencing technology and was one of the first programmers to seamlessly blend beats and live playing. He also has an interesting (?) collection of old keyboards and stuff. Memorable moments (apart from a Grammy and a Brit) would probably be supporting U2 at Wembley stadium, and arranging pieces for the LSO – which were performed in Februrary 07 at the Barbican.
Jonathan Quarmby
