Val Garay

Val Garay (born May 9, 1942) is an American recording engineer and record producer who has worked with Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Kim Carnes, The Motels, Neil Diamond and others. Garay also co-founded Los Angeles recording studio Record One.

Career Garay, the son of Latin singer Joaquin Garay and grandson of Joaquin Garay III grew up in Burlingame, California, where he graduated from Burlingame High School. A songwriter and guitarist, Garay left behind studies at Stanford University School of Medicine to pursue a career as a professional musician.

In the mid-1970s, Garay's manager, Michael J. Gruber, introduced him to engineer and producer David Hassinger, founder of The Sound Factory recording studio in Hollywood. Garay was soon engineering recording sessions at The Sound Factory and working with Peter Asher, on albums like Linda Ronstadt's Heart Like a Wheel, James Taylor's JT, and Bonnie Raitt's The Glow. to form Red Red Records, and he works with up-and-coming new artists as well as produces/engineers scores for motion picture and television projects.

Awards and recognition In 1982, Garay shared a Grammy Award for Record of the Year with Kim Carnes, for "Bette Davis Eyes". He has received numerous entertainment industry awards and additional Grammy nominations, including Best Engineered Recording for his work on the James Taylor album JT and Linda Ronstadt's Simple Dreams, a nomination for Album of the Year for Kim Carnes' Mistaken Identity, and a nomination for Producer of the Year. He received an Emmy nomination for Best Engineered Recording of a TV Special for Neil Diamond's I'm Glad You're Here with Me Tonight, as well as dozens of gold and platinum records.

Personal life Garay is married to Nicole Dunn, CEO of Dunn Pellier Media, a Los Angeles-based public relations firm for celebrity health and wellness talent.