David Bruce Rivkin

David "Z" Rivkin, a producer, engineer, and guitarist whose quiet touch shaped decades of American music, passed away peacefully in Burbank, California, following complications from an infection. He was 78.

A cornerstone of the Minneapolis music scene, David engineered a teenage Prince's earliest demos, a partnership that led to Prince's signing with Warner Bros. and to recordings later featured in Purple Rain. He also helped create Lipps Inc.'s hit "Funkytown," and worked with artists including Etta James (earning two Grammy Awards), Fine Young Cannibals, Al Green, and Buddy Guy. Longtime collaborator Owen Husney called him "the secret ingredient" behind many of these projects, humble and rarely one to talk about his own work, but undeniable in his impact.

David was, above all, a devoted brother, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his brothers Bobby and Stephen; his children Charley, Amy, Josh, and Shelby; and his grandsons, Archer and Felix.