Born in New York, produced as a freelancer for Verve, Rounder, Globestyle, Rykodisc and others before moving to Brazil and joining first Polygram (Universal), then EMI Odeon. EMI moved him to London where he created the world music label EMI Hemisphere. He also produced for EMI Premier, Blue Note and EMI Classics. Upon leaving there he returned to freelance production for Sterns, Mondo Melodia and others, was General Director of Womex, etc. Wrote over 250 liner notes and produced, in total, over 120 albums and compilations.