US music producer and CD pioneer Phil Ramone dies

 March 31-A native of South Africa, The US music producer and pioneer of digital recording, Phil Ramone, has died aged 79.

Ramone is regarded as one of the most successful producers in history, winning 14 Grammy awards and working with stars such as Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Elton John and Paul McCartney.

He produced the first major commercial release on CD, Billy Joel's 1982 album 52nd Street.

He became a US citizen at 12, and opened his own recording studio in 1958. He was known for bringing artists together for duets, producing efforts by Frank Sinatra and Bono, and Tony Bennett and Paul McCartney among others.

Ramone had been in hospital for several weeks, where he was being treated for an aortic aneurysm.Confirming his death, his son Matt Ramone said he was "very loving and will be missed".