Don DeVito Passes

DON DEVITO, 72. the longtime Columbia Records exec who was Bob Dylan’s most important producer during the ‘70s, passed away this morning after “a long and hard fight with prostate cancer.” DeVito, who was most recently SVP A&R at the label, did four albums with Dylan, including ‘76’s Desire, the Hard Rain and Live at Budokan alubms and Street Legal. In the ‘90s, DeVito returned as a compilation producer for Bob's Bootleg Series, Vol. 1-3 box set, the 30th Aniversary Concert Celebration, Greatest Hits Vol. 3 and The Best of Bob Dylan. In 2000, he produced Dylan's single “Things Have Changed,” which won the Oscar in 2001 for Best Song. He supervised the Bootleg Series, Vol. 5 and was producer of the Hybrid SACD set. DeVito also produced albums for Aerosmith and Billy Joel. He leaves behind wife Carolyn, daughter Marissa, who will be organizing an online tribute to her dad, and son James. (11/25p)