Producer Phil Ramone dies Phil Ramone. Phil Ramone, the Grammy award-winning engineer and producer whose platinum touch included recordings with Ray Charles, Billy Joel and Paul Simon, has died at 79. Ramone's son, Matt Ramone, said his father died on Saturday morning at a New York City hospital from complications stemming from recent heart surgery. Phil Ramone, who lived in Wilton, Connecticut, was among the most honoured and successful music producers in history, winning 14 Grammys and working with many of the top artists of his era. He was also an innovator who helped the CD displace vinyl as the primary commercial format. His many soundtrack credits included Flashdance, Ghostbusters and Midnight Cowboy.