Jon Evan Fausty (February 20, 1949 – September 29, 2023) was an American multiple Grammy Award-winning sound and recording engineer best known for his work on some of the most successful Latin albums ever recorded.
Fausty's career spanned over six decades. He designed studios, produced and engineered recordings throughout the United States, Canada, Cuba and Europe - both in studio and live performances.
Early career Born in Westchester, New York, of Russian and Hungarian Jewish ancestry, Fausty “helped shape the sound of Latin music.” Fausty originally wanted to be a radio disc jockey but became interested in sound engineering after a chance visit in 1960 to Mirasound Studios in Manhattan. The engineers allowed him to watch and learn. His first job was at Groove Sound studios where he became Wiley C. Brooks' assistant. After Brooks left, Fausty became the chief engineer at 18 years old. He remained at Groove Studios for one year.
His first Latin recording was for the Cesta All-Stars at Groove Sound. New to Latin music and Latin instruments, he thought that he had botched the recording. He next went to Delta Studios, where he recorded jingles and commercials – and this is where he honed his skills. While at Delta, he recorded an album with Willie Rosario, Charlie Palmieri and Manique. These recordings allowed him to learn the “mathematics” of the salsa sound (clave & tumbao).
Later career After a chance meeting with Larry Harlow at a friend's jam session, Harlow would later call Fausty and ask him to audition at Good Vibrations Sound Studios (formerly RKO Sound Studios) which was owned by Fania Records. Out of approximately 40 candidates Fausty was hired. Fausty was instrumental in fitting the studio with the latest technology including a retractable ceiling designed specifically to isolate the percussion sections from interfering with other aspects of the recording.
Fausty recorded with Willie Colón, Héctor Lavoe, Ray Barretto, Johnny Pacheco, La Sonora Ponceña, Roberto Roena, Cheo Feliciano, the Lebrón Brothers, Ismael Miranda, Larry Harlow, Típica 73, Fania All-Stars, Bobby Valentin, Javier Vazquez, Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez, Mon Rivera, Tommy Olivencia, Kako, Mongo Santamaría, Lalo Rodríguez, Simon Perez, Rocky Pagán, Joe Cuba, Puerto Rico All Stars, La Lupe, Diego Melón, El Gran Combo, Willie Rosario, Johnny "Dandy" Rodríguez, Jerry González, Eddie Palmieri, Kip Hanrahan, Jack Bruce, Milton Cardona, Roberto Torres, Conjunto Clásico, Daniel Ponce, Los Van Van, David Burn, Angel Canales, Christie Mcfol, Astor Piazzolla, Justo Betancourt, Johnny Ventura, Louie Ramirez, Bobby Rodriguez, Papo Vázquez, Munequitos de Matanzas, Tito Puente, Hilton Ruiz, Bronx Horns, Orlando Valle, Paquito D'Rivera, Yomo Toro, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Chucho Valdés, Manny Oquendo, Puerto Rican Power, Grupo Niche, Chico O'Farrill, George Benson, Jack Bruce, Vocal Sampling, Tito Nieves, Fernando Villalona, Víctor Manuelle, Luis "Perico" Ortiz, Los Vacillos, Esau Delgado, Angel Melendez, Machito Rivera, Ralphy Leavitt, among others.
Fausty had thousands of recordings of which 18 have been awarded Grammy Awards. He won Grammys with Chucho Valdés, Celia Cruz, Rubén Blades, Marc Anthony.
Death Fausty died on September 29, 2023, in Tampa, Florida at the age of 74.
Selected discography
1961 – Sabú's Jazz Espagnole – Sabú Martínez (remastering) 1965 – Mozambique – Eddie Palmieri (remastering) 1966 – Bad Breath – Bobby Valentín (remastering) 1967 – Bravo Celia Cruz – Celia Cruz (remastering) 1967 – Con Todos los Hierro – Cortijo / Ismael Rivera (remastering) 1967 – Jala Jala y Boogaloo – Ricardo Ray (remastering) 1968 – Hacheros Pa' un Palo – La Sonora Ponceña (remastering) 1968 – The Hustler – Willie Colón (remastering) 1968 – The Tingling Mother's Circus – The Tingling Mother's Circus (engineer) 1968 – Soul of Machito – Machito (remastering) 1970 – Algo Nuevo – Bobby Valentín (remastering) 1970 – Conjunto Clásico – Conjunto Clásico (engineer) 1971 – Chivirico – Chivirico Dávila (engineer) 1971 – Live at the Cheetah, Vol. 1 – Fania All-Stars (engineer, audio engineer) 1972 – Desde Puerto Rico a Nueva York – La Sonora Ponceña (remastering) 1972 – En La Union Esta La Fuerza – The Lebrón Brothers (remastering) 1972 – La Sonora Poncena – La Sonora Ponceña (engineer) 1972 – Recorded Live at Sing Sing, Vol. 1 – Eddie Palmieri (remastering) 1972 – The Message – Ray Barretto (remastering) 1972 – Visitation – Chirco (production engineer, mixing engineer) 1973 – Asalto Navideño, Vol. 2 – Willie Colón / Héctor Lavoe (engineer, audio engineer) 1973 – Asi Se Compone un Son – Ismael Miranda (engineer, audio engineer) 1973 – Asunto de Familia – The Lebrón Brothers (engineer) 1973 – Chivirico – Chivirico Dávila (engineer, audio engineer) 1973 – Felicidades – Cheo Feliciano (engineer) 1973 – Indestructible – Ray Barretto (engineer, audio engineer, liner notes) 1973 – Infinito – Willie Rosario (engineer) 1973 – Lo Mato – Willie Colón (engineer, audio engineer, remastering) 1973 – Roberto Roena y su Apollo Sound, Vol. 5 – Roberto Roena / Su Apollo Sound (engineer, audio engineer, recording Director) 1973 – The Other Road – Ray Barretto (engineer) 1973 – Tres de Café y Dos de Azúcar – Johnny Pacheco (engineer) 1974 – Celia & Johnny – Celia Cruz / Johnny Pacheco (engineer) 1974 – El Conde – Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez (engineer, Audio Production) 1974 – En Fa Menor – Ismael Miranda (engineer) 1974 – En Una Nota! – Monguito Santamaría (mixing engineer, recording) 1974 – In Motion – Bobby Valentín (engineer, audio engineer) 1974 – La Verdad (The Truth) – Javier Vázquez y Su Salsa (engineer, mixing engineer) 1974 – Latin-Soul-Rock – Fania All-Stars (mixing) 1974 – Live at Yankee Stadium – Mongo Santamaría (mixing, mixing engineer) 1974 – Love Is...Seguida – Seguida (Assistant) 1974 – Rey del Bajo – Bobby Valentín (engineer, audio engineer) 1974 – Roberto Roena y su Apollo Sound, Vol. 6 – Roberto Roena (engineer, audio engineer) 1974 – Salsa – Larry Harlow / Orchestra Harlow (engineer, audio engineer) 1975 – Barretto – Ray Barretto (engineer, remastering) 1975 – El Judio Maravilloso – Orchestra Harlow (remastering) 1975 – El Maestro – Johnny Pacheco (engineer) 1975 – Escucha mi Canción – Paquito Guzmán (engineer) 1975 – Este Es Ismael Miranda – Ismael Miranda (engineer) 1975 – La Voz – Héctor Lavoe (engineer, audio engineer, liner notes) 1975 – Live at Yankee Stadium, Vol. 1 – Fania All-Stars (mixing) 1975 – Planté Bandera – Tommy Olivencia (engineer, audio engineer, remastering) 1975 – The Good, the Bad, the Ugly – Willie Colón (engineer, audio engineer) 1975 – There Goes the Neighborhood – Willie Colón / Mon Rivera (engineer, remastering) 1975 – Tremendo Caché – Celia Cruz / Johnny Pacheco (engineer) 1976 – Andy Harlow's Latin Fever – Andy Harlow (engineer) 1976 – Cocinando la Salsa (Cookin' the Sauce) – Joe Cuba / Joe Cuba Sextet (engineer) 1976 – Con Mi Viejo Amigo – Ismael Miranda (engineer) 1976 – Conquista Musical – La Sonora Ponceña (engineer) 1976 – De Ti Depende (It's Up to You) – Héctor Lavoe (engineer, audio engineer) 1976 – El Gigante del Sur – La Sonora Ponceña (engineer, mixing) 1976 – Este Negro Si Es Sabroso – Pete "El Conde" Rodríguez (audio engineer) 1976 – I Can See – Ralfi Pagán (engineer, mixing) 1976 – Introducing Lalo Rodríguez and Simon Pérez – Tommy Olivencia (engineer, audio engineer) 1976 – Live at Yankee Stadium, Vol. 2 – Fania All-Stars (mixing, remastering, mixing engineer) 1976 – Lucky 7 – Roberto Roena (engineer, audio engineer, remastering) 1976 – Para Mi Gente – Chivirico Dávila (engineer, mixing) 1976 – Rhythm in the House – Hilton Ruiz (engineer) 1976 – Sofrito – Mongo Santamaría (engineer) 1976 – Tomorrow: Barretto Live – Ray Barretto (engineer) 1976 – Tribute to Tito Rodriguez – Fania All-Stars (engineer, mixing) 1976 – Ubane – Mongo Santamaría (engineer) 1976 – Union Dinamica – Kako (engineer) 1977 – 10th Anniversary – The Lebrón Brothers (engineer, recording) 1977 – Con Salsa y Sabor: Charlie Palmieri & Meñique – Charlie Palmieri (remastering) 1977 – El Jardinero del Amor – Larry Harlow (engineer) 1977 – La Raza Latina: A Salsa Suite – Larry Harlow / Orchestra Harlow (engineer, mixing) 1977 – Llegó Melón – Johnny Pacheco (engineer) 1977 – Metiendo Mano! – Rubén Blades / Willie Colón (engineer) 1977 – Mintiendo se Gana Más – Paquito Guzmán (mixing) 1977 – No Voy Al Festival – Ismael Miranda (engineer, remastering) 1977 – One of a Kind (Unica en Su Clase) – La Lupe (engineer) 1977 – Only They Could Have Made This Album – Willie Colón / Celia Cruz (engineer, audio engineer) 1977 – Puerto Rico All Stars – Puerto Rico All Stars (engineer, mixing) 1977 – Roberto Roena y su Apollo Sound, Vol. 9 – Roberto Roena (engineer) 1978 – 49 Minutes – Willie Colón (engineer) 1978 – A Todo Mis Amigos – Celia Cruz (remastering) 1978 – Comedia – Héctor Lavoe (engineer, mixing) 1978 – El Albino Divino – Larry Harlow (engineer, mixing) 1978 – El Progreso – Roberto Roena (remastering) 1978 – Explorando – La Sonora Ponceña (engineer, audio engineer) 1978 – Fiesta de Soneros – Tommy Olivencia (mixing, recording) 1978 – La 8va. Maravilla – Roberto Roena (engineer) 1978 – Peligro – Paquito Guzmán (engineer, mixing) 1978 – Siembra – Rubén Blades / Willie Colón (engineer, audio engineer, liner notes) 1978 – The Brillante – Celia Cruz (engineer) 1979 – El Rey del Ritmo – Willie Rosario (engineer) 1979 – Recordando a Felipe Pirela – Héctor Lavoe (engineer, mixing) 1979 – Solo – Willie Colón (engineer, audio engineer, recording Director, Live Sound engineer) 1980 – Dandy's Dandy: A Latin Affair – Latin Percussionists (engineer, Remixing) 1980 – El De a 20 De Willie – Willie Rosario (mixing) 1980 – Maestra Vida: Primera Parte – Rubén Blades (engineer, audio engineer, mixing) 1980 – Maestra Vida: Segunda Parte – Rubén Blades (engineer, audio engineer, mixing) 1980 – Unity – El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico (engineer) 1981 – Canciones del Solar de los Aburridos – Rubén Blades / Willie Colón (engineer) 1981 – Carabalí – Carabalí (mixing) 1981 – Fantasmas – Willie Colón (engineer, audio engineer, Remixing) 1981 – Happy Days – El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico (mixing) 1981 – The Portrait of a Salsa Man – Willie Rosario (mixing) 1982 – Calidad – Adalberto Santiago (remastering) 1982 – Corazón Guerrero – Willie Colón (engineer, audio engineer, Technical Director) 1982 – Coup de Tête – Kip Hanrahan (engineer, mixing, Editing, Overdubs) 1982 – Criollo – The Lebrón Brothers (remastering) 1982 – Desire Develops an Edge – Kip Hanrahan (engineer, mixing) 1982 – El Encuentro – Johnny Rodríguez y Su Orquestra (engineer, mixing) 1982 – Super Apollo 47:50 – Roberto Roena / Adalberto Santiago (remastering) 1982 – The Last Fight – Rubén Blades / Willie Colón (engineer, mixing) 1982 – The River Is Deep – Jerry González (mixing) 1982 – Totico Y Sus Rumberos – Totico Y Sus Rumberos (engineer, remastering, Digital remastering) 1982 – Ya Yo Me Cure – Jerry González (engineer) 1982 – Yo Soy Latino – Larry Harlow / Orchestra Harlow (engineer) 1983 – Bahía – Gato Barbieri (remastering) 1983 – El Que la Hace la Paga – Rubén Blades (engineer, mixing) 1983 – Vigilante – Willie Colón / Héctor Lavoe (engineer, mixing, recording Director) 1984 – Carabalí 2 – Carabalí (mixing) 1984 – Lo Que Pide La Gente – Fania All-Stars (remastering) 1985 – A Few Short Notes from the End Run – Kip Hanrahan (engineer) 1985 – Bembe – Milton Cardona (engineer, audio engineer) 1985 – Conjure: Music for the Texts of Ishmael Reed – (mixing) 1985 – Vertical's Currency – Kip Hanrahan (engineer, mixing) 1986 – Elegantemente Criollo – Roberto Torres (engineer, mixing) 1986 – Live in Japan 1976 – Fania All-Stars (remastering) 1987 – Afro Caribbean Jazz – Batacumbele (Sequencing, Mixdown engineer) 1987 – Arawe – Daniel Ponce (engineer) 1987 – Así Es Mi Pueblo – Conjunto Clásico (engineer) 1987 – En Su Décimoquinto Aniversario – Johnny Ventura (engineer)