Bob Ezrin: He Does That
The recording industry veteran comes, speaks, and conquers Full Sail.
When thirty-five year veteran musician, engineer, producer and composer Bob Ezrin came to Full Sail to speak to a packed house of students, he gave them more than a few insider tips and tricks. First and foremost, however, Ezrin shared his professional mantra with Full Sail’s aspiring recording engineers: “I can do that.” Considering his track record, we bet it’s a lesson that the gathered students took to heart.
Over the course of his career, Ezrin has worked with the likes of Kiss, Pink Floyd, Cher, Jane’s Addiction, Peter Gabriel, Alice Cooper, and Lou Reed, and on soundtracks for movies like Detroit Rock City and Vanilla Sky, all while juggling his own computer software company, an internet radio station, and several music education programs. His years of experience make him a perfect fit to speak at Full Sail, but we felt like Ezrin deserved extra props for his extraordinary dedication to his craft and a distinguished career in the recording and music production industry.
Which is why, during a recent visit to the school, Full Sail’s President, Garry Jones, presented Ezrin with an honorary Recording Arts degree. The diploma was a tribute to the outstanding longevity and success of a recording legend who continues to stretch the boundaries of the art of music production. “With this degree comes the heartfelt respect and admiration of the students and staff of Full Sail Real World Education,” said Jones as he presented the degree.
Ezrin was surprised and honored by the degree, and took the opportunity to respond in kind. “This is going to have a prominent place in my music room where it belongs,” he said. “I’m very proud of this and very happy to now be an official member of the Full Sail family. I thank you all for that.”
The good vibes continued when Ezrin addressed our audience of future recording professionals. “Being in this business is the best job in the world,” Ezrin announced, as he greeted the audience with a broad smile, “and you are a part of the magic.” Attributing his own success in large part to his supportive family, he began by detailing his youth, explaining that very early on in life he learned a vital lesson. “I did not know that I couldn’t do something,” he said. Ezrin told the audience matter-of-factly that the people who make it in the recording industry, or anywhere, are the ones who never learned that they can’t succeed.
He continued by sharing some universal truths that can help make the road to success a smooth one. First, “know that nobody gives a damn about how you look,” Ezrin explained, “because everybody is too busy worrying about how they look. The difference between that time when you were in the zone and the other times is that that one time you were too busy too be afraid.”
Secondly, Ezrin feels that professionals starting out in today’s recording and music production business need to learn to become innovators. “You’re at a very interesting time in history. You’re going to have to discover alternative ways to make music count for you.” He compared this pivotal point in music to the advent of the automobile. “Before the automobile was invented there were people out there saying, ‘There’s no way we’ll ever have a replacement for the horse and buggy,’ and that’s where we are today with the music industry. It’s changing. Remember that whenever you tear something down, something more beautiful rises up in its place.”
Finally, he encouraged students to learn the power of whoa. Say what? “Just find the whoa factor, because it’s there everywhere. But it’s really there in what we do, because what we do is so insanely great. If you’re filled with wonder at your job, and you're doing your job and you’re doing it right, you do not have time to be afraid, you do not have time to think about what is not possible, and chances are you will succeed.”
After Ezrin entertained questions from the audience, he said goodbye to the assembled students and staff while assuring us that he would return. Bill Smith, Full Sail’s Program Director for Recording Arts, reiterates why we look forward to it. “Bob is a true vanguard in the recording industry. He exemplifies the spirit of what Full Sail is all about in that he’s always evolving and pushing the boundaries. He’s altogether fearless. You have to respect that. You can’t help but be inspired.”
Over the course of his career, Ezrin has worked with the likes of Kiss, Pink Floyd, Cher, Jane’s Addiction, Peter Gabriel, Alice Cooper, and Lou Reed, and on soundtracks for movies like Detroit Rock City and Vanilla Sky, all while juggling his own computer software company, an internet radio station, and several music education programs. His years of experience make him a perfect fit to speak at Full Sail, but we felt like Ezrin deserved extra props for his extraordinary dedication to his craft and a distinguished career in the recording and music production industry.
Which is why, during a recent visit to the school, Full Sail’s President, Garry Jones, presented Ezrin with an honorary Recording Arts degree. The diploma was a tribute to the outstanding longevity and success of a recording legend who continues to stretch the boundaries of the art of music production. “With this degree comes the heartfelt respect and admiration of the students and staff of Full Sail Real World Education,” said Jones as he presented the degree.
Ezrin was surprised and honored by the degree, and took the opportunity to respond in kind. “This is going to have a prominent place in my music room where it belongs,” he said. “I’m very proud of this and very happy to now be an official member of the Full Sail family. I thank you all for that.”
The good vibes continued when Ezrin addressed our audience of future recording professionals. “Being in this business is the best job in the world,” Ezrin announced, as he greeted the audience with a broad smile, “and you are a part of the magic.” Attributing his own success in large part to his supportive family, he began by detailing his youth, explaining that very early on in life he learned a vital lesson. “I did not know that I couldn’t do something,” he said. Ezrin told the audience matter-of-factly that the people who make it in the recording industry, or anywhere, are the ones who never learned that they can’t succeed.
If you’re filled with wonder at your job, and you're doing your job and you’re doing it right... you will succeed.
Bob Ezrin
Secondly, Ezrin feels that professionals starting out in today’s recording and music production business need to learn to become innovators. “You’re at a very interesting time in history. You’re going to have to discover alternative ways to make music count for you.” He compared this pivotal point in music to the advent of the automobile. “Before the automobile was invented there were people out there saying, ‘There’s no way we’ll ever have a replacement for the horse and buggy,’ and that’s where we are today with the music industry. It’s changing. Remember that whenever you tear something down, something more beautiful rises up in its place.”
Finally, he encouraged students to learn the power of whoa. Say what? “Just find the whoa factor, because it’s there everywhere. But it’s really there in what we do, because what we do is so insanely great. If you’re filled with wonder at your job, and you're doing your job and you’re doing it right, you do not have time to be afraid, you do not have time to think about what is not possible, and chances are you will succeed.”
After Ezrin entertained questions from the audience, he said goodbye to the assembled students and staff while assuring us that he would return. Bill Smith, Full Sail’s Program Director for Recording Arts, reiterates why we look forward to it. “Bob is a true vanguard in the recording industry. He exemplifies the spirit of what Full Sail is all about in that he’s always evolving and pushing the boundaries. He’s altogether fearless. You have to respect that. You can’t help but be inspired.”
