Current age: 71 (born December 18, 1953)
Career Beginnings – The Rise of a Talent
1969–1970
As a teenager, David Hentschel started working as an assistant at Trident Studios in London. His natural talent for electronics and musicality quickly made him stand out.
He was a sound engineer on All Things Must Pass by George Harrison and worked with The Beatles, David Bowie, and others. His command of the newly released ARP 2500 synthesizer placed him at the forefront of British sound engineering.
"Rocket Man" – A Rocket Sound in Pop
1972 – Album Honky Château
Hentschel was responsible for one of the most striking effects in Elton John's discography.
In Rocket Man, he used the ARP 2500 to simulate a rocket launch — with filters, oscillators, and analog delays. The effect reinforced the song’s theme: isolation in space. This electronic sound, unheard of in pop at the time, became a technical signature of Hentschel.
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Creative Peak
1973
At only 19 years old, David was invited to join Elton John’s main recording team for the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road album, at Château d'Hérouville, France.
"Funeral for a Friend"
The epic instrumental intro was composed and created by Hentschel on the ARP 2500, stitching together segments and atmospheres that referenced other songs on the album. It was one of the first times something with this electronic and emotional scale was heard in a pop/rock album.
"Bennie and the Jets" – Unforgettable Studio Trickery
Though it sounds like a live recording, Bennie and the Jets was fully done in the studio. Hentschel and the team created the illusion of a concert by:
Adding real audience sounds from other shows;
Altering the piano’s reverb;
Creating “artificial” clap echoes through analog tape manipulation.
The result is one of the most unusual and captivating tracks on the album, with a touch of studio-made realism.
Consolidation with Elton – More Innovations
1974–1975
On the albums Caribou (1974) and Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975), Hentschel expanded his technical contributions. On songs like Someone Saved My Life Tonight, he applied layers of synthesizers, tape effects, and subtle delays that heightened the song’s drama.
Film Score: Operation Daybreak
1975
Hentschel debuted as a film composer with Operation Daybreak, a movie about Operation Anthropoid in World War II. Mixing traditional orchestra with synthesizers, the score intensifies the film’s tension and historical setting.
Post-Elton Years – Genesis and Productions
1976–1980
He began producing albums for Genesis: A Trick of the Tail (1976), Wind & Wuthering (1976), and ...And Then There Were Three... (1978). He also released experimental solo albums.
MIDI Era and Christian Music
1980s–1990s
In the U.S., he founded a studio focused on MIDI and electronic music. He worked with Ensoniq and produced Christian rock artists and progressive bands like Art in America.
Recognition and Awards
He was named “Producer of the Year” three times, won awards for technical innovation, and is remembered as a pioneer in the creative use of synthesizers in pop music.
Interviews and Visual Resources
On Elton John’s official website, David gives a technical testimony about the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road sessions, especially Funeral for a Friend.
On YouTube, the soundtrack he composed for Operation Daybreak is available.
Sites like Discogs and IMDb list his soundtrack and production history.
David Hentschel Today
He is alive, 71 years old, and still active in occasional projects, remaining engaged with music and sound engineering.
Full Links (unformatted)
Wikipedia – David Hentschel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Hentschel
Interview with Hentschel on Elton John's official website
https://www.eltonjohn.com/stories/engineerdavidhentscheltalksaboutgoodbyeyellowbrickroad
Article on the use of the ARP 2500 in “Funeral for a Friend”
https://musicaficionado.blog/2019/01/30/arp-instruments-in-the-1970s/
Soundtrack of Operation Daybreak
Discogs – soundtrack album of Operation Daybreak
https://www.discogs.com/release/28108327-David-Hentschel-Operation-Daybreak
IMDb – Hentschel’s film credits
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0378185/
Videos from:
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