Producer and Warner Music Exec Won Two Grammy Awards

David May, a two-time Grammy Award-winning producer and long-time executive with Warner Music Group, passed away April 13 in Nashville, TN, at the age of 68. May died of natural causes, reps say.

In the studio, May was blessed with creative vision, deep technical expertise and a knack for archival preservation, and he used those gifts to pursue new audio formats and for mastering.

During his lifetime, May worked closely with many notable artists, including Metallica, Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Josh Groban, R.E.M., Cream, Green Day, Stevie Nicks, Led Zeppelin, Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Michael Bublé, and George Harrison, for projects that ranged from studio sessions to live arena performances.

In 1998, May won his first Grammy for best long form music video (or best music film) for Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill, Live. Ten years later, in 2008, he received his second in the same category for Madonna’s The Confessions Tour concert film, presented at the Grammys 50th anniversary show. He was also nominated for best music film in 2007 for his work on Madonna’s “I’m Going To Tell You A Secret.”

May began his career as a recording engineer in the 1970s at Pasha Studios. Like so many music industry professionals who rose to the very top, May had a brief stint in the mailroom at Warner Records. An opportunity opened up for an industry expert with great ears to consult on a Madonna project. May didn’t drop the ball.

With experience and a passion for music and production, he’d go on to focus on live concerts and MTV promo videos from 1987 to 2010, serving in a full-time capacity in the Warner Records/Rhino Entertainment A&R and video department.  In 2010, he left the label to form Delixandra Music, an independent productions and consulting firm that has worked with Universal Music Group, Warner Records, Rhino, Iconic Artists Group, and others.

As a recording artist and songwriter, May released several original albums and successfully landed syncs on a slew of TV shows, including American Horror Story, The Sinner, Cold Case, and Brothers & Sisters.

May is survived by his wife Michelle (Dupuis); daughter Alex (Julius Francis), and daughter Devin (Tim Casey).

Those wishing to make a donation in his name are encouraged to do so at the Young Musicians’ Foundation in Los Angeles, CA, as well as Siloam Health in Nashville, TN, both of which provide care and education for underserved communities, or a charity of your choice.