Ron Haffkine, a highly acclaimed record producer and manager known for his work with Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show, has passed away at the age of 84. Haffkine died at his home in Mexico after a brief battle with leukemia and kidney failure, according to his longtime friend and music executive Joel Diamond.
Diamond, reflecting on Haffkine’s talents, noted that he had a remarkable ability to recognize a hit song even in its rawest form. Haffkine possessed the rare talent to pair these songs with the best musicians and then guide the artists to deliver meticulous performances.
Haffkine played a pivotal role in getting Dr. Hook signed by Clive Davis at Columbia Records in the 1970s. The band, led by Dennis Locorriere, George Cummings, the iconic eyepatch-wearing Ray Sawyer, and Billy Francis, went on to achieve immense success with a string of hits that included “Sylvia’s Mother,” “Cover of the Rolling Stone,” “Sharing the Night Together,” “When You’re in Love With a Beautiful Woman,” “Sexy Eyes,” “Baby Makes Her Blue Jeans Talk,” and “A Little Bit More.”
In addition to Dr. Hook, Haffkine produced 10 studio albums and two live albums for the band. His extensive career also involved working with notable artists such as Waylon Jennings, Lou Rawls, Mac Davis, and Helen Reddy.
Related Post
Haffkine frequently collaborated with singer, songwriter, and poet Shel Silverstein. His production of Silverstein’s “Where the Sidewalk Ends” earned him a Grammy Award in 1985. Haffkine received another Grammy nomination two years later for his work on another Silverstein children’s album, “A Light in the Attic.”
Born on December 13, 1938, in New York, Haffkine faced adversity at a young age when he contracted polio at 12, leaving him paralyzed for two years. It was in Greenwich Village that Haffkine became friends with Shel Silverstein. Silverstein approached Haffkine to produce music that he had written for the films “Ned Kelly” (1970), starring Mick Jagger, and “Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?” (1971), starring Dustin Hoffman and Barbara Harris.
Haffkine recommended Dr. Hook to be featured in “Harry Kellerman,” but for that to happen, the band needed a record deal. After an impromptu live showcase in Clive Davis’ office, Dr. Hook was signed. They performed Silverstein-written songs “Bunky and Lucille” and “Last Morning” in the movie.
In 1972, Haffkine produced Silverstein’s music comedy album “Freakin’ at the Freakers’ Ball,” featuring Dr. Hook in the title track. He also recorded Silverstein’s offbeat song “Do You Want to Boogie or Do You Don’t” that same year.
Several years ago, Haffkine and his wife of 37 years, Sydney, relocated to Mexico. She survives him.
Ron Haffkine’s legacy as a record producer and manager is deeply embedded in the music industry. His knack for recognizing hit songs, coupled with his ability to bring out the best in artists and musicians, was unparalleled. His work with Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show propelled them to great heights, and his collaborations with Shel Silverstein left a lasting impact on the world of music. Haffkine’s Grammy win and nomination for Silverstein’s albums showcase his exceptional production skills. He will be remembered as a true music industry legend who shaped the careers of many artists and left an indelible mark on the industry as a whole.
