John Neff

With a career that saw him work with everyone from Steely Dan to David Lynch, journeyman audio engineer John Neff wore many hats—producer, film mixer, songwriter, studio owner, recording engineer, label head and many more. Neff's career began in 1965 as a member of The Ascots. Throughout the early 1970s, he was session musician in Detroit, often working for producer Don Davis at United Sound Systems, playing synthesizer, guitar and bass on more than 125 records during his time there; during the latter half of the 1970s he played in road bands for Hoyt Axton and Steppenwolf. In the late '70s Neff set up a label, Maui Zone Records, and a recording studio, Maui Recorders, to produce regional acts. In 1989, Walter Becker asked Neff to build a studio for him on Maui, where Neff recorded solo albums for both Becker and Donald Fagen. In 1993 Neff moved to Phoenix, AZ where he founded a studio design firm, creating David Lynch's Asymmetrical Studio in Los Angeles. His final studio project was The Lab Studio, Portland, OR. He passed away in Portland on December 27, 2022 at the age of 71.