Tom Coyne (music engineer)

Biography

Coyne was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey and grew up in nearby Union where he graduated from Roselle Catholic High School in 1972. He attended Kean College where he received a degree in Commercial Design. Following college, Coyne's first job was at Dick Charles Recording where Lee Hulko, former owner of Sterling Sound, got his first job in the states after arriving from Thunder Bay, Ontario. In the six months Coyne worked at Dick Charles, he watched Dick master records on the lathe and soon began cutting his own after hours. Coyne then was hired at Frankford/Wayne Mastering Labs, assisting under Dominic Romeo, known for cutting 45s for The Rolling Stones, The Four Seasons, Frankie Valli and Dionne Warwick among others. For the next ten years, Coyne primarily cut records for dance bands with his first big record being "Ladies Night" by Kool and the Gang. In 1989, Coyne was hired by the Hit Factory where he spent another five years mastering mostly Hip-Hop and R&B records by artists such as Black Box, Billy Ocean, Tribe Called Quest and De la Soul. In 1994, Coyne was offered a job by Lee Hulko who now operated Sterling Sound. In 1998, Coyne, Ted Jensen, Greg Calbi, Murat Aktar (Absolute Audio co-founder) and the UK based Metropolis bought Sterling Sound from Lee Hulko.

Coyne died on April 12, 2017 from multiple myeloma at the age of 62.

Awards and recognition

During his career, Coyne won six Grammy Awards and one Latin Grammy Award and had over 35 category wins.

Studio

Sterling Sound is located in New York City, occupying the top floor of the Chelsea Market in the Meatpacking District. It was designed by Fran Manzella, FM Design.

Selected works

2017 Cayendo - Nicole Pernigotti

2017 Time in a Vacuum - Franzone

2017 Confusion - Fase39

2017 Speak to Me - Amy Lee

2017 Gang Signs & Prayer - Stormzy

2017 The Valley - Betty Who

2017 Fifty Shades Darker [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] - Danny Elfman

2017 Dear Evan Hansen: Original Broadway Cast Recording - Benj Pasek / Justin Paul

2017 Believer (single) - Imagine Dragons

2017 Thankful - New Kids on the Block

2017 Animal World 動物世界 - Joker Xue 薛之謙

2016 And the Anonymous Nobody... - De La Soul

2016 Dangerous Woman - Ariana Grande

2016 24K Magic - Bruno Mars

2016 Boxes - Goo Goo Dolls

2016 Ripcord - Keith Urban

2016 Joanne - Lady Gaga

2016 Starboy - The Weeknd

2016 Sit Still, Look Pretty - Daya

2016 Glory Days - Little Mix

2016 Dream Machine - Tokio Hotel

2016 Lady Wood - Tove Lo

2016 Fantôme - Utada Hikaru

2016 Selamanya Cinta - Shila Amzah featuring Alif Satar

2015 25 - Adele

2015 Hamilton (Broadway Cast Recording)

2015 Lesser Oceans - Fences

2015 Daya - Daya

2015 The Bass Bass (Trail Mix) - Franzone

2015 Piece of Music - Franzone

2015 Uptown Special - Mark Ronson

2015 Confident - Demi Lovato

2014 1989 - Taylor Swift

2014 Rose ave. - You+Me

2014 Four - One Direction

2014 Sex and Love - Enrique Iglesias

2014 Sweet Talker - Jessie J

2014 Trail - Franzone

2014 My Everything - Ariana Grande

2014 In the Lonely Hour - Sam Smith

2014 The London Sessions - Mary J. Blige

2013 In limine - Silvia Tancredi

2013 3.0 - Marc Anthony

2013 BEYONCÉ - Beyoncé

2013 Avril Lavigne - Avril Lavigne

2013 Midnight Memories - One Direction

2012 The Truth About Love - P!nk

2012 The Heist - Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

2012 Overexposed - Maroon 5

2012 Looking 4 Myself - Usher

2012 Red - Taylor Swift

2012 Songs of the Third and Fifth - The Mark of Cain

2011 21 - Adele

2010 Body Talk - Robyn

2010 This Is the Warning - Dead Letter Circus

2009 BLACKsummers'night - Maxwell

2009 Sound Awake - Karnivool

2008 I Am... Sasha Fierce - Beyoncé

2008 Funhouse - P!nk

2008 Circus - Britney Spears

2007 Blackout - Britney Spears

2007 Introducing Joss Stone - Joss Stone

2006 Verónica Orozco - Verónica Orozco

2006 I'm Not Dead - P!nk

2004 Patience - George Michael

2004 On the 6/J.Lo - Jennifer Lopez

2004 Lose My Breath/Soldier - Destiny's Child

2003 Frank - Amy Winehouse

2003 Dangerously in Love - Beyoncé

2003 In the Zone - Britney Spears

2002 X - Def Leppard

2002 Details - Frou Frou

2001 Now - Maxwell

2001 Survivor - Destiny's Child

2001 Mandy Moore - Mandy Moore

2001 O-Town - O-Town

2001 Willa Was Here - Willa Ford

2001 Ghetto Fabulous - Fabolous

2001 Genesis - Busta Rhymes

2001 AOI: Bionix - De La Soul

2001 Crown Royal - Run–D.M.C.

2001 Better Days - Joe

2001 Nivea - Nivea

2001 Britney - Britney Spears

2001 Embrace the Chaos - Ozomatli

2001 All Rise - Blue

2001 Tarantula - Mystikal

2001 I Told You So - Chino XL

2000 Mama's Gun - Erykah Badu

2000 Lover's Rock - Sade

2000 Like Water for Chocolate - Common

2000 The Platform - Dilated Peoples

2000 No Angel - Dido

2000 Human Nature - Human Nature

2000 Late for the Future - Galactic

2000 Oops!... I Did It Again - Britney Spears

2000 Yeeeah Baby - Big Pun

2000 More - Vitamin C

2000 Bridging the Gap - The Black Eyed Peas

2000 Fear of Flying - Mýa

2000 Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3: Streetsoul - Guru

2000 Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump - De La Soul

2000 My Name Is Joe - Joe

2000 G.O.A.T. - LL Cool J

2000 Art and Life - Beenie Man

2000 Rule 3:36 - Ja Rule

2000 Black & Blue - Backstreet Boys

2000 Voodoo - D'Angelo

1999 Walking Off the Buzz - Blessid Union of Souls

1999 A Prince Among Thieves - Prince Paul

1999 There's a Poison Goin' On - Public Enemy

1999 Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter - Jay Z

1999 Beneath the Surface - GZA

1999 Chyna Doll - Foxy Brown

1999 Coming of Age - Memphis Bleek

1999 ...Baby One More Time - Britney Spears

1999 Venni Vetti Vecci - Ja Rule

1999 Millennium - Backstreet Boys

1999 Imajin - Imajin

1998 Bobby Digital in Stereo - RZA

1998 Dearest Christian, I'm So Very Sorry for Bringing You Here. Love, Dad - P.M. Dawn

1998 Embrya - Maxwell

1998 The Love Movement - A Tribe Called Quest

1998 Foundation - Brand Nubian

1998 E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front - Busta Rhymes

1998 Soul Survivor - Pete Rock

1998 Make It Reign - Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz

1998 Last Time Around: Live at Legends - Buddy Guy

1997 That's Them - Artifacts

1997 The Black Bossalini - Spice 1

1997 Get Some - Snot

1997 When Disaster Strikes... - Busta Rhymes

1997 Da Dirty 30 - Cru

1997 Forever - Bobby Brown

1997 Jock Jams, Volume 3 - Various Artists

1997 Backstreet's Back - Backstreet Boys

1997 Phenomenon - LL Cool J

1997 Love Always - K-Ci & JoJo

1997 Live - Erykah Badu

1997 The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel - Gravediggaz

1997 Long Time No See - Chico DeBarge

1997 One Day It'll All Make Sense - Common

1997 The Mix Tape, Vol. II - Funkmaster Flex

1997 Holonic-The Self Megamix - DJ Krush

1997 God Sound - Boogiemonsters

1997 Wu-Tang Forever - Wu-Tang Clan

1997 Solid HarmoniE - Solid HarmoniE

1997 Scout's Honor… by Way of Blood - Rampage

1997 Salisbury - Uriah Heep

1997 All That I Am - Joe

1997 Chupacabra - Imani Coppola

1997 Paradisiaque - MC Solaar

1997 Dangerous Ground - Various Artists

1996 I Am L.V. - L.V.

1996 Backstreet Boys - Backstreet Boys

1996 Gravity - Da Bush Babees

1996 High School High - Various Artists

1996 Off Parole - Rappin' 4-Tay

1996 All Frames of the Game - Playaz Tryna Strive

1996 Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite - Maxwell

1996 Here to Save You All - Chino XL

1996 Beats, Rhymes and Life - A Tribe Called Quest

1996 It Was Written - Nas

1996 Wild Cowboys - Sadat X

1996 From Where??? - Mad Skillz

1996 Gettin' It (Album Number Ten) - Too Short

1996 The Nutty Professor - Various Artists

1996 Takin' Mine - Heather B.

1996 Sa-Deuce - Sa-Deuce

1996 Autobiography of Mistachuck - Chuck D

1996 Ill Na Na - Foxy Brown

1996 Realms 'n Reality - Cella Dwellas

1996 Illadelph Halflife - The Roots

1996 Red Hot + Rio - Various Artists

1996 Stakes Is High - De La Soul

1996 Time Will Reveal - Above the Law

1996 Peace Beyond Passion - Meshell Ndegeocello

1996 The Hemp Museum - B-Legit

1996 The Coming - Busta Rhymes

1996 Tha Hall of Game - E-40

1995 Mr. Smith - LL Cool J

1995 2000 - Grand Puba

1995 The Awakening - Lord Finesse

1995 Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... - Raekwon

1995 Game Related - The Click

1995 The Show - Various Artists

1995 1990-Sick - Spice 1

1995 Liquid Swords - GZA

1995 World Ultimate - The Nonce

1995 Prophecy - Capleton

1995 People Who Fell from the Sky - Mind Funk

1995 Mind of Mystikal - Mystikal

1995 No Man's Land - Souls of Mischief

1995 Cocktails - Too Short

1995 Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version - Ol' Dirty Bastard

1995 New Jersey Drive, Vol. 1 - Various Artists

1994 Creep wit' Me - Ill Al Skratch

1994 Keep the Fire Burnin' - Dan Hartman

1994 Muse Sick-n-Hour Mess Age - Public Enemy

1994 Fear Itself - Casual

1994 Promise - Sade

1994 Blowout Comb - Digable Planets

1994 Do You Want More?!!!??! - The Roots

1994 Ambushed - Da Bush Babees

1994 Ring - The Connells

1994 A Low Down Dirty Shame - Various Artists

1994 From the Ground Up - The Roots

1994 Between a Rock and a Hard Place - Artifacts

1994 Super Tight - UGK

1994 Age Ain't Nothing but a Number - Aaliyah

1994 Prose Combat - MC Solaar

1994 Subliminal Simulation - Dream Warriors

1994 Same as It Ever Was - House of Pain

1994 The Big Badass - Ant Banks

1993 Plantation Lullabies - Meshell Ndegeocello

1993 Supermodel of the World - RuPaul

1993 93 'til Infinity - Souls of Mischief

1993 Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space) - Digable Planets

1993 Buhloone Mindstate - De La Soul

1993 I Hear Black - Overkill

1993 Prototype - Varga

1993 Menace II Society - Various Artists

1993 Midnight Marauders - A Tribe Called Quest

1993 Time to Move On - Billy Ocean

1993 12 Play - R. Kelly

1993 T.I.M.E. (The Inner Mind's Eye) - Leaders of the New School

1993 Get in Where You Fit In - Too Short

1993 Faithful - Hi-Five

1993 Code Red - DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

1993 The Polyfuze Method - Kid Rock

1993 Here Come the Lords - Lords of the Underground

1992 Sex and Violence - Boogie Down Productions

1992 F.U. Don't Take It Personal - Fu-Schnickens

1992 In God We Trust - Brand Nubian

1992 Shorty the Pimp - Too Short

1992 Love Deluxe - Sade

1992 Keep It Goin' On - Hi-Five

1992 House of Pain - House of Pain

1992 Too Hard to Swallow - UGK

1991 Homebase - DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

1991 The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest

1991 Live Hardcore Worldwide - Boogie Down Productions

1991 Funke, Funke Wisdom - Kool Moe Dee

1991 A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing - Black Sheep

1991 Nature of a Sista - Queen Latifah

1991 De La Soul Is Dead - De La Soul

1990 Grits Sandwiches for Breakfast - Kid Rock

1990 People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm - A Tribe Called Quest

1990 Into Darkness - Winter

1990 By Inheritance - Artillery

1990 Edutainment - Boogie Down Productions

1990 Jump for Joy - Koko Taylor

1990 Sex Packets - Digital Underground

1990 Deicide - Deicide

1989 Beneath the Remains - Sepultura

1989 Bayou Cadillac - BeauSoleil

1989 Flag - Yello

1988 I Remember Blind Joe Death - John Fahey

1988 Life Is...Too Short - Too Short

1988 Staring at the Sun - Level 42

1988 Power Metal - Pantera

1987 Liberty and Justice For... - Agnostic Front

1987 Buster Poindexter - Buster Poindexter

1987 Earth, Sun, Moon - Love and Rockets

1987 Running in the Family - Level 42

1987 Taking Over - Overkill

1986 Standing in the Light - Level 42

1986 Animalization - The Animals

1986 Game Over - Nuclear Assault

1986 The Pink Opaque - Cocteau Twins

1986 After Dark - Johnny Adams

1986 Unveiling the Wicked - Exciter

1986 Atomizer - Big Black

1986 Dancing on the Edge - Roy Buchanan

1986 Bayou Boogie - BeauSoleil

1986 True Colours - Level 42

1985 Hellish Crossfire - Iron Angel

1985 I Am the Night - Pantera

1985 Nail - Foetus

1985 Skeptics Apocalypse - Agent Steel

1985 Long Live the Loud - Exciter

1985 Gotta Let This Hen Out! - Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians

1985 World Machine - Level 42

1985 Hello Central...Give Me Dr. Jazz - Bob Brozman

1985 Open the Door - Pentangle

1985 Haven't You Heard - Paul Laurence

1985 Deckchairs Overboard - Deckchairs Overboard

1985 Standing in the Line of Fire - Gary U.S. Bonds

1985 Showdown! - Albert Collins, Robert Cray & Johnny Copeland

1985 Queen of the Blues - Koko Taylor

1985 When a Guitar Plays the Blues - Roy Buchanan

1985 Pressure Cooker - Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown

1984 How We Rock - SSD

1984 King of the World - Mighty Sparrow

1984 Ride the Lightning - Metallica

1984 Escape - Whodini

1984 Commercial Zone - Public Image Ltd

1984 Guitar Slinger - Johnny Winter

1984 Fat Boys - The Fat Boys

1984 City Babys Revenge - Charged GBH

1984 How Men Are - Heaven 17

1984 Burning Star - Helstar

1984 Suddenly - Billy Ocean

1984 From the Heart - Johnny Adams

1984 Doot-Doot - Freur

1984 Jealousy - Touchstone

1984 Don't Break the Oath - Mercyful Fate

1983 Hittin' the Road Again - Red Holloway

1983 Mongo Magic - Mongo Santamaría

1983 High-Rise - Ashford & Simpson

1983 Bar Room Preacher - Jimmy Johnson

1983 Listen - A Flock of Seagulls

1983 Land of the Lost - The Freeze

1983 Live - The Rods

1983 Check It! - Mutabaruka

1982 Midnight Blue - Louise Tucker

1982 A Flock of Seagulls - A Flock of Seagulls

1982 Miscellaneous Abstract Record No. 1 - Rosalie Sorrels

1982 November Group - November Group

1981 Something Special - Kool & the Gang

1981 What a Woman Needs - Melba Moore

1980 Celebrate! - Kool & the Gang

1980 National Lampoon White Album - National Lampoon

1979 Music Box Dancer - Frank Mills

1979 Delores Hall - Delores Hall

1979 I'm Caught Up (In a One Night Love Affair) - Inner Life

1979 Come Into My Life - Carol Douglas

1979 Ladies' Night - Kool & the Gang

1978 What About You! - Stanley Turrentine

1978 Take a Look at Those Cakes - James Brown