In unfortunate news that broke today, it was announced that Jonny Dollar, the co-producer of Massive Attack’s seminal classic debut, Blue Lines had passed away. Jonny Dollar’s (real name, Jonny Sharp) died at the Royal Marsden hospital in London, UK on 29th May this year at the tragic age of only 45. He had been diagnoised with cancer last August. As well as producing Blue Lines, Dollar also worked with Neneh Cherry and produced Gabrielle’s three-times platinum 1999 album ‘Rise’. Quote – Ferdy Unger-Hamilton, president of Polydor, spoke about Dollar’s death. – “I knew Jonny from his work with Neneh Cherry, he co-produced a lot of her work with Cameron McVey and Massive Attack. He also produced Blue Lines. These records had a profound effect on me, Buffalo Stance and Man Child when I was about 14 and when I first heard Unfinished Sympathy like everybody else who heard it, I don’t think I could really believe what I was hearing.” [Musicweek - June 2009]
What makes this even more tragic is that Jonny leaves behind a wife and four children. May he rest in peace and our thoughts go to his family and friends.