The Reiff Void

His was a name known only by chief music aficionados and melody makers.  A master of the bass and groove.  A producer who used simple and sometimes unorthodox methods to achieve massively successful and acclaimed results. His name was George Reiff.  You don’t know the name.  But, you know the music. George first came on people’s radar in the 80’s as part of the Joe King Carrasco outfit. His greatest notoriety as a player perhaps came alongside Charlie Sexton, although he was also noticed when he sat in with The Courtyard Hounds. Yet, it was in the studio that George Reiff made his greatest impact. Name a record or band from Texas over the past 20 years and chances are, Reiff had a hand in their music either directly behind the mixing board or indirectly via his vast influence. From national stalwarts like Ian Moore, Bob Schneider, Tedeschi Trucks Band and Charlie Mars. To regional and local favorites such as Charlie Robison, Beaver Nelson, Max Stalling, Bruce Robison, Cory Morrow, Texas Renegade, Charlie Shafter, Bleu Edmondson and many others.

Reiff produced standout efforts from Uncle Lucius, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Lincoln Durham, Shinyribs and Band of Heathens.  He created a sound that was identifiable as his own and filtered it through the artists’ own vision to truly produce something that evokes the pure connotation of that word.  You know a George Reiff record when you hear one. A master of the bass and groove indeed.  He will be terribly missed.

https://youtu.be/j2GhFjZlLqc

https://youtu.be/wfI7CDffQYM