David Z, Longtime Prince Associate and Key Architect of ‘the Minneapolis Sound,’ Dies at 78

The music world has lost one of its most influential behind-the-scenes figures. David “Z” Rivkin, a Grammy-winning producer, engineer, and guitarist whose work spanned multiple genres and generations, died Sunday at a Burbank, California hospital from complications related to an infection. He was 78. His brother, Bobby “Z” Rivkin—the longtime drummer for Prince & the Revolution—confirmed the news to the Minnesota Star Tribune. For the Minneapolis music community, where Rivkin operated as a quiet yet formidable presence, his passing closes a significant chapter.

Rivkin’s professional portfolio reads like a cross-section of late 20th-century popular music. He was instrumental in shaping Lipps Inc.’s 1980 disco smash “Funky Town,” a track that continues to dominate dance floors and film soundtracks decades later. His production work on Etta James’ 1994 album Mystery Lady earned him two Grammy Awards, while his co-production of Fine Young Cannibals’ 1989 hit “She Drives Me Crazy” brought a nomination. The list of artists who benefited from his engineering and production talents is staggering: Gram Parsons, Elvis Costello, Al Green, Jody Watley, Angelique Kidjo, Big Head Todd & the Monsters, and Buddy Guy. Before relocating to Los Angeles to write songs at A&M Records alongside Parsons, Rivkin’s early guitar work appeared on regional 1960s favorites like “Little Latin Lupe Lu” by the Chancellors and “Turn on Your Lovelight” by the High Spirits. Notably, Lipps Inc. was the project of another Minneapolis musician, Steven Greenberg, who recorded the song in a local studio—a testament to the city’s surprisingly fertile music scene even before Prince put it on the global map.

Perhaps Rivkin’s most consequential contribution came through his role as an early catalyst for Prince’s ascent. In 1976, Owen Husney—Prince’s first manager and Rivkin’s former bandmate—introduced the 18-year-old Prince to Rivkin, who listened to the young artist’s demos and offered some suggestions. Husney later told the Star Tribune that Prince was so taken with Rivkin’s feedback that he demanded Rivkin be the only person to work with him. That moment proved pivotal, leading to Prince signing with Warner Bros. Records in 1977. Rivkin went on to contribute to several Prince projects, including the live recordings that became the foundation for three tracks on the iconic Purple Rain album and film. “David was the secret ingredient on many, many musical projects,” Husney recalled. “He stayed pretty silent about it. He never really talked about his work or what he did. His significance is undeniable on the Minneapolis music scene.”

Born the eldest of three brothers—with Stephen, a film editor who worked on the Avatar and Pirates of the Caribbean franchises, in the middle—Rivkin returned to Minneapolis in 1974 to study engineering, a decision that rooted him in the city’s rapidly evolving musical landscape. That scene, which also produced Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, and other future members of the Revolution and the Time, owed much to Rivkin’s technical acumen and creative instincts. Music historian and producer Steve Fjelstad, who worked with Prince in the early 1980s, offered a poignant assessment: “David had an ear for what a track needed, not just what it had. He could take a rough demo and see the finished record in it, which is why so many artists trusted him.” Adding to his mystique, Rivkin’s ability to move effortlessly between genres—from disco to soul to rock—made him a rare commodity in an industry that often rewards specialization over versatility.

Rivkin is survived by his two brothers, his children Charley, Amy, Josh, and Shelby, and two grandchildren. His death leaves an undeniable gap in the music world, but his influence—from the infectious groove of “Funky Town” to the raw soul of Etta James and the pioneering sound of Prince—will resonate for years to come. Though he remained silent about his own accomplishments, the music he helped shape continues to speak with remarkable clarity.