GARY BURDEN,
1933-2018

Album cover designer Gary Burden, best known for his work with Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Eagles and The Doors, died Friday. He was 84.

Burden had a 50-year relationship with Young, designing covers dating back to After the Gold Rush and including the upcoming Roxy. Burden won a Grammy for Neil Young Archives Vol. 1 Box Set.

Young wrote in his website, “We probably made 40 covers. I lost count. In the last twenty, thirty or so years, Gary has worked alongside his talented and beautiful wife, Jenice, at R. Twerk & Co, as we have continued on a life-time of making album covers, laughing, loving acoustic music and so many other things."

Among Burden’s other work is The Doors’ Morrison Hotel, Mitchell’s Blue, CSNY’s Déjà vu, Jackson Browne’s debut album, David Crosby’s If I Could Only Remember My Name, and multiple covers for Eagles, My Morning Jacket, Jim James, America and Jerry Lee Lewis.

“A pioneer in his field, Burden played a significant role in conceptualizing album packaging,” said Neil Portnow, Recording Academy President/CEO. “Burden will be deeply missed, but remembered for shaping the visual element of the music listening experience for artists and listeners alike. Our thoughts are with Gary's family, friends, and fellow colleagues during this difficult time.”