Christian Music Executive Bob Mackenzie Dies

tian distribution company. For the past 15 years, MacKenzie and Kerr have been involved in various music and real estate ventures.

In addition to his business acumen and creative skills, MacKenzie was well-known in the Christian music industry for mentoring many of the community's top artists and executives. Michael W. Smith signed his first publishing deal with Paragon/Benson Publishing in September 1980. "That's how I met my wife. I went to have a meeting with Bob MacKenzie, and he was running a little late," recalls Smith. "That's how I met Deb. She walked by, and I fell in love. I always give him credit . . . I loved Bob MacKenzie. We all know where he's at [in heaven]. What a great man! After a conversation with Bob you came away feeling 'I can do anything.' That's a real gift, being able to encourage somebody like that."

Benson Records president John Mays recalls watching MacKenzie in the studio. "He was the first real record producer I ever saw in action, and he was as intense a person as I've ever known," recalls Mays. "I was so impressed with how much he cared about every little detail. I really learned that from him—the slightest nuance of music he cared about in his production. He worked and worked to get things right."

Mays also cites him as a mentor. "He was so wise and so available. His advice and counsel is something I always held to be very valuable."

"It can be truthfully said of Bob what we all should want said of us—that he made a lot of the folks in his life better people for having known him," says Stephen Speer, chairman of the GMA awards and criteria committee.

MacKenzie is survived by his wife, Joy, and two daughters, Kristen and Shana MacKenzie.