David Z, the Grammy-winning producer and recording engineer who helped define the Minneapolis Sound and played a crucial role in Prince’s early career, has died at the age of 78.
Born David Bruce Rivkin, the respected studio innovator died on August 2, 2026, at a hospital in Burbank, California. His brother Bobby Z, the original drummer for Prince and the Revolution, said the producer died from complications arising from an infection.
Over a career spanning more than five decades, David Z worked with artists including Prince, Etta James, Fine Young Cannibals, Lipps Inc., Jonny Lang, Billy Idol, Buddy Guy, Neneh Cherry and BoDeans. His adventurous recording techniques helped shape some of the most distinctive pop, rock, funk and blues records of their time.
A Minneapolis Music Pioneer
David Rivkin was born on March 25, 1948, and grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He became involved in the city’s music community as a teenager, playing in local rock bands before establishing himself as a songwriter, musician and recording engineer.
He later adopted the professional name David Z. His younger brother, Robert B. Rivkin—better known as Bobby Z—became the drummer for Prince’s band the Revolution. Another brother, Stephen E. Rivkin, became a prominent film editor whose credits include Avatar and several Pirates of the Caribbean films.
David Z was active in Minneapolis studios during a period when the city was developing a musical identity that combined funk, rock, pop, soul and electronic instrumentation. That combination eventually became known internationally as the Minneapolis Sound.
With his knowledge of drum machines, synthesizers, effects, loops and unconventional mixing techniques, David Z helped create the sonic foundation on which that musical movement was built.
Early Connection With Prince
David Z’s connection with Prince began before the young musician became an international superstar.
Prince’s first manager, Owen Husney, introduced the producer to the then-teenage artist at Minneapolis’ Sound 80 studio in 1976. According to Husney, Prince quickly decided that David Z was the engineer he wanted to record his early demo material.
Those recordings proved important in Prince’s efforts to obtain a record contract with Warner Bros. Records. David Z subsequently contributed to several stages of Prince’s career as an engineer and producer.
Husney later described him as a largely unheralded but essential contributor to numerous musical projects. Although David Z rarely drew attention to his accomplishments, his technical and creative influence was widely recognised within the Minneapolis music community.
Recording the Music That Became ‘Purple Rain’
One of David Z’s most historically significant assignments came on August 3, 1983, when Prince and the Revolution performed a benefit concert at First Avenue in Minneapolis.
David Z helped record the concert using a mobile recording unit. Basic live recordings from that evening were later edited and enhanced to become three songs on Prince’s landmark Purple Rain album: the title track, “I Would Die 4 U” and “Baby I’m a Star.”
He shared recording-engineer credits on those tracks with David Hewitt and Kooster McAllister. Prince later added overdubs and made other changes at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles.
The recording of “Purple Rain” captured the emotional power of Prince and the Revolution performing before a hometown audience. It became one of Prince’s defining songs and the centerpiece of an album and film that transformed him into a global superstar.
David Z therefore did not produce the entire Purple Rain album, but his work engineering the First Avenue performance was an important part of its creation.
The album went on to become one of the most celebrated releases in popular-music history, while its title track remains permanently associated with Prince’s legacy.
The Transformation of ‘Kiss’
David Z also played an important role in the development of Prince’s 1986 hit “Kiss.”
Prince originally gave a basic version of the song to Mazarati, a Minneapolis-based band whose debut album David Z was producing. Working with the group, David Z radically rearranged the material, giving it a sparse and unconventional funk treatment.
When Prince heard the reworked version, he reclaimed the song, replaced the lead vocal and added guitar while retaining much of the arrangement created during the Mazarati sessions.
“Kiss” became a No. 1 hit in the United States and earned Prince and the Revolution a Grammy Award. Its minimalist sound—with sharp guitar, a stripped-down rhythm and distinctive vocal delivery—became one of the most recognisable recordings of the decade.
Creating the Sound of ‘She Drives Me Crazy’
David Z’s innovative approach was equally important to Fine Young Cannibals’ 1988 recording “She Drives Me Crazy.”
He produced the track and helped create its famous explosive snare-drum sound. The unusual effect was achieved through an inventive combination of recording, processing and mixing techniques.
“She Drives Me Crazy” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became an international hit. David Z received a Grammy nomination for his production work on the song.
The recording demonstrated his ability to create sounds that immediately captured listeners’ attention. It also showed that his influence extended well beyond Minneapolis and the artists associated with that city.
From ‘Funkytown’ to the Blues
David Z was also connected to “Funkytown,” the 1980 worldwide disco hit by the Minneapolis group Lipps Inc. The song topped the American singles chart and became one of the era’s most enduring dance records.
His career later moved comfortably across musical genres. He worked with performers such as Billy Idol, Neneh Cherry, Buddy Guy, A-ha, Jonny Lang, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and BoDeans.
David Z earned two Grammy Awards for his production work with blues legend Etta James. He produced her albums Let’s Roll and Blues to the Bone, both of which won Grammy honours.
His collaborations with James highlighted his versatility. The same producer who helped create electronic funk and experimental pop could also capture the emotional directness of traditional blues.
A Fearless Studio Innovator
Colleagues remembered David Z as an experimental producer who was never afraid to use equipment in unexpected ways.
Bobby Z described his brother as a master of studio devices who connected instruments and operated mixing consoles using unconventional methods. His curiosity allowed him to find sounds that other engineers might have overlooked.
At a time when drum machines, sampling and electronic recording technology were transforming popular music, David Z treated the studio as a creative instrument. His work helped connect traditional musicianship with the emerging production techniques of the 1980s.
That spirit of experimentation became a defining feature of the Minneapolis Sound.
Final Years and Family
David Z lived and worked in several major music centres during his career, including Minneapolis, Los Angeles, London, New York, Nashville and Memphis. He returned to Los Angeles in 2011 and continued working until his retirement in 2025.
He is survived by his brothers, four children—Charley, Amy, Josh and Shelby—and two grandchildren.
His death prompted tributes from musicians, producers and admirers who recognised his contributions to some of the most important recordings of the past half-century.
A Lasting Musical Legacy
David Z’s name may not have been as widely known as those of the stars he recorded, but his creative influence can be heard across generations of popular music.
From Prince’s early demos and the First Avenue recordings used on Purple Rain to “Kiss,” “Funkytown,” “She Drives Me Crazy” and his Grammy-winning work with Etta James, he repeatedly helped turn ambitious musical ideas into memorable records.
He leaves behind a legacy as a producer, songwriter, musician and engineer who expanded the possibilities of the recording studio. More importantly, he helped give Minneapolis a sound that the world would recognise.
David Z was 78.
