David Z, the Grammy-winning producer and engineer who helped shape Prince's early sound, has died at the age of 78. The cause of death was not reported.
Born David Rivkin, he worked with Prince during the artist's rise in the late 1970s and 1980s, contributing to landmark albums that helped define the Minneapolis sound. Over his career, he collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Etta James, Fine Young Cannibals, the Jets, Jonny Lang, and Jody Watley.
David Z also contributed to the Hot 100 number-one hits "Funkytown" by Lipps Inc. and "She Drives Me Crazy" by Fine Young Cannibals, cementing his reputation as a versatile and influential figure in pop and rock production.
His work earned him a Grammy Award, though the specific project for which he won was not identified in the reports. He is remembered for his technical skill and his ability to bring out the best in the artists he worked with.