Baltimore native Ari Steven Blitz, a Grammy Award-nominated audio engineer, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 29. The Los Angeles resident was 39.
A graduate of the Community College of Baltimore County and the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences in Tempe, Arizona, Blitz was the vice president of audio at AfterMaster Audio in Hollywood.
As a producer, mixing and mastering engineer, Blitz had more than 15 years of experience working in the music industry.
Among the artists he worked with were Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Ricky Martin, Rita Ora, Sofia Reyes, Anitta and Jason Derulo. His credits included such gold and platinum records as “The Fame Monster” by Lady Gaga, Adam Lambert’s “The Paramount Sessions,” “Sweetzerland Manifesto” by Joe Perry and “Make Me” by Janet Jackson.
“Ari wasn’t just mixing sound; he was creating magic,” an unidentified collaborator told the website Always Remembered. “He had this unique ability to make you feel something with his work, to bring the music alive in a way that was extraordinary.”
In a description of himself on the SoundBetter website, Blitz wrote that he was a protege of Shelly Yakus, the legendary recording engineer who worked with John Lennon, Frank Sinatra, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, U2, Van Morrison and others
“I specialize in all genres and love bringing my clients’ vision to the radio,” Blitz wrote. “Being a musician my whole life, it was natural for me to parlay my love of music into a formidable career working among many successful and talented artists over the past 10+ years in this industry. My passion is to work closely with the talent, to catapult their creative vision into a truly professional standard; from Songwriting to Vocal Production and everything in-between, accomplishing a dynamic final product.”
Blitz is survived by his wife, Isabelle Jade Blitz (nee Basha); his daughters, Emilia Rose Blitz and Corinna Capri Blitz; his parents, Lauri Sue (late Joey) Malin and Scott Evan Blitz; his sister, Erin Rachel Blitz; his grandparents, the late Barbara and Jules Blitz, and Beverly and Tolbert Kronthal; his father-in-law, Doron (Esther) Basha; his mother-in-law, Catherine Basha; his sister-in-law, Nathalie (Evan) Antin; and his nephew, Elio Antin.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, Jan. 6, at 2 p.m. at Sol Levinson’s Chapel, 8900 Reisterstown Road in Pikesville. Interment will be at Har Sinai Cemetery, 11401 Garrison Forest Road in Owings Mills.
Contributions in Blitz’s memory may be sent to the charity of your choice.
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