Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind & Fire, Quincy Jones: Stories from the Studio, with Jerry Hey. Ep. 146

This episode of The Other Side of the Bell, featuring legendary trumpeter and horn arranger Jerry Hey, is brought to you by Bob Reeves Brass.

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Jerry Hey returns to The Other Side of the Bell and shares insights from his extensive career as a trumpet player and arranger, discussing his new book, 'Notes from the Past 50 Years'.

Jerry reflects on the process of compiling his work and writing out the charts in the book (from memory!), the challenges of arranging for horn sections, and the evolution of his sound over the years.

Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind & Fire, Chaka Khan, Al Jarreau, David Foster, Elton John, Aretha Franklin, Toto - the list goes on and on of the timeless artists and albums Jerry has played on, and arranged horns. Yet, as he tells us, Jerry considers himself primarily a trumpet player, not an arranger.

He reminisces about his collaborations with so many notable musicians, and the intensity of studio work in the 80's. We learn valuable advice on mic placement when recording horns, techniques for falls and slurs, and he shares thoughts on the transition from analog to digital recording.

Tune in for amazing stories behind some of your favorite songs and horn parts: it's all here, in the stone.


Find the expanded show notes, transcript and more photos here:

https://bobreeves.com/blog/jerry-hey-...


About Jerry Hey:

Jerry Hey is one of the defining trumpet voices and horn arrangers in modern popular music. Born in Dixon, Illinois, into a deeply musical family, he honed his craft with Charlie Geyer and later at Indiana University under legendary pedagogue William Adam. After an early run co-founding the jazz-fusion band Seawind in Hawaii, Hey moved to Los Angeles in the mid-1970s and quickly became a first-call session player and arranger.

From there, his sound is heard on a staggering number of iconic recordings. Hey’s horn writing and trumpet playing helped shape Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall and Thriller albums, and his long association with Quincy Jones produced landmark work for Earth, Wind & Fire, George Benson, Al Jarreau, Patti Austin, Barbra Streisand, Toto, and countless others. A six-time Grammy winner, he has been recognized repeatedly for his instrumental and vocal arrangements, as well as his contributions to major film and television scores, including Flashdance, The Color Purple, the Back to the Future trilogy, Forrest Gump, and Dreamgirls.

Most recently, Hey has opened his personal archives in Notes From The Past 50 Years, a 250-page collection of pop excerpts spanning his studio career. The book gathers more than 200 of his favorite licks, along with personal stories and rare photos that trace his path from early days in Los Angeles to his most iconic sessions—including a few lesser-known musical gems.

Equally at home leading a horn section, crafting a string chart, or delivering a lyrical flugelhorn solo, Hey remains a benchmark for precision, style, and imagination in the studio, with an influence that continues to shape how artists, arrangers, and producers think about horn sections today.


Episode Links:

Website:
http://heyhorns.com/

Instagram:
  / heyhorns  

Jerry Hey playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4aj...

The Other Side of the Bell Episode #15 - William "Bill" Adam Tribute
https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/...

The Other Side of the Bell Episode #22 - Jerry Hey
https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/...


Chapters:

00:00 Intro, News & Bio
19:52 The Evolution of Jerry Hay's Horn Section
27:48 Collaborations with Earth, Wind & Fire and Michael Jackson
34:13 The Busy LA Studio Scene
37:15 Staying Healthy While Working 90 Hours/Week
44:03 Late Night Recording Sessions
51:53 Transition from Tape to Digital Recording
54:56 Miking Techniques for Horn Sections
01:03:01 Reflections and Advice from Jerry Hay


Podcast Credits:

“A Room with a View“ - composed and performed by Howie Shear
Podcast Host - John Snell
Cover Photo Credit - Jerry Hey/Megan Noller
Audio Engineer - Ted Cragg

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