Mark Kamins

Mark Kamins (April 11, 1950 – February 14, 2013) He is best known for helping launch the career of singer Madonna by bringing her to Sire Records and producing her debut single "Everybody" in 1982.

Life and career Kamins attended Elizabeth Irwin High School in New York City. He grew up with songwriter Bob Thiele Jr. and they went to school with jazz drummer Denardo Coleman and photographer Amy Arbus. "That was a B-Side of a Junior Tucker song. It was just a Sly & Robbie dub track that was hanging around. I gave it to Grace to write some lyrics on it, and she came up with "Pull Up to the Bumper." They became romantically involved and Kamins played her music for Blackwell, hoping to sign her. The Island Records chief said, "I'm not gonna sign my A&R guy's girlfriend." Kamins produced "Everybody", which was released as Madonna's debut single in October 1982.

Kamins remixed "A Nite Out" (1983) and "Peacetrain" (1984) by Urban Blight. In 1984, Kamins recorded the Beastie Boys. He produced the 1985 album Pigs and Battleships by Quando Quango. He was survived by a son.