David Z, the producer and engineer whose work proved instrumental in shaping Prince's sound throughout the 1970s and 1980s, has passed away at age 78 following an infection-related illness. Born David Rivkin, he was introduced to Prince in 1974 and played a crucial role in developing the distinctive 'Minneapolis Sound,' contributing to iconic albums including Purple Rain and producing the hit single 'Kiss.'

Beyond his Prince collaborations, Z maintained a diverse career spanning several decades across the music industry. He achieved commercial success as a member of Lipps Inc with the 1980 chart-topper 'Funkytown,' earned a Grammy Award for his work on Etta James' 2005 album, and spent years as a staff songwriter at A&M Records. Industry colleagues credited him as an understated but essential presence in Minneapolis's music scene, despite his preference for remaining outside the spotlight.