Mike Vernon, a record producer who helped shape the sound of 1960s British blues rock, has died at 81.
His work was foundational to the genre. He produced pivotal albums for John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, featuring guitarist Eric Clapton, and for the early lineup of Fleetwood Mac.
Vernon also guided David Bowie’s debut album to release. His productions are widely credited with igniting the British blues boom of the 1960s.