Terry Manning, the storied, multi-talented music professional, passed away yesterday, March 25. Manning was a renaissance man of music who worked alongside some of the most celebrated artists of all time on hundreds of recordings through more than six decades in the industry. As a producer, engineer, songwriter, performer and photographer, and he crossed paths with countless icons and became a highly sought-after collaborator for his cutting-edge techniques and ear for greatness; his most celebrated achievements include work with Led Zeppelin, Big Star, ZZ Top and Stax Records. Manning was 77.

Manning was raised in El Paso, Texas, where he got his start in the industry as a rhythm guitarist in Bobby Fuller’s band. When he figured that he wouldn’t find a future in his hometown, the young artist packed up and followed the music of early inspirations like Rufus Thomas to Memphis, Tenn., just as a new sound was reaching full boil in the Home of the Blues.

When he arrived in Memphis, Manning promptly made his way to Stax Records and offered his services for whatever needs the ascendant soul label might have. Though just a young teenager, he caught a break from Booker T. & the M.G.’s guitarist Steve Cropper, who let him sweep up the floors and stand in behind the boards when scheduled engineers failed to show; soon enough, he had an office of his own in the iconic Stax building and a chance to learn on the job mixing landmark releases from Albert King, Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, William Bell, the Bar-Kays, Isaac Hayes and more.

As a rising star in the booming Stax operation, Manning was taken under the wing of co-owner Al Bell, who entrusted him with the high honor of joining the production team for the Staple Singers. He quickly became an integral contributor to some of the legendary gospel/soul group’s biggest recordings, bringing arrangements, songwriting, production and instrumental performances to “Heavy Makes You Happy,” “Respect Yourself” and the chart-topping 1972 classic “I’ll Take You There.” These triumphant successes led him to the role of Music Supervisor for the WattStax, the unforgettable 1972 all-star concert and 1973 concert film since selected for preservation in the Library of Congress.

When he was still starting out at Stax, Manning made inroads across town as the very first employee at John Fry’s new Ardent Studios. There, he served as a lead engineer and general prime mover, quickly rising to become the chief engineer and manager for a studio widely acclaimed for its innovative early adoption of multi-track technology. When The Box Tops stopped by for their first sessions in ‘66, Manning became fast friends with frontman Alex Chilton; around the time when he produced Chilton’s long-lost solo album 1970, he partnered with his then best-friend Chris Bell to form Rock City, the mythicized precursor to Big Star.

After Ardent Records was founded in 1971 to capitalize on the studio’s burgeoning popularity, Manning convinced Fry to sign Chilton and Bell’s new group. Big Star’s resulting debut #1 Record, now commonly recognized as one of the greatest albums of all time, features keyboards, backing vocals and production from Manning.

Championing multi-track recording was only the first of many innovative approaches advanced by Manning. When Robert Moog made history with the first commercial synthesizers in the mid ’60s, the artist quickly pursued tutelage in the promising new technology from the inventor himself. By the time the instruments arrived on the market, Manning was one of the earliest experts in its programming, and his mastery of the Moog IIIC led him to contribute an overdub to Leon Russell’s 1971 smash hit “Stranger in a Strange Land.”

In 1966, while The Yardbirds made the rounds on an infamous tour of the United States, Manning became close friends with Jimmy Page. The pair discussed the possibility of forming a new group in pursuit of a heavier sound, and though Manning bowed out to attend to his present responsibilities, they remained in close contact. Four years later, Page tapped Manning to bring his unique perspective to Led Zeppelin III, for which he served as a producer and mixing/mastering engineer. Outside the sessions, he very literally made his mark on the essential album by hand-etching the Aleister Crowley quotes in the original pressing’s runout: “Do What Thou Wilt” and “So Mote Be It.”

Manning’s work with Led Zeppelin elevated his profile even further. Among those to take note of the historic achievement was Billy F. Gibbons, who trekked out to Memphis to bolster ZZ Top’s sound. With mixing and production on 1973’s Tres Hombres, Manning and ZZ Top began a close collaboration that lasted 18 years, resulting in such titanic albums as Tejas, Deguello, Recycler and 1983’s Eliminator, which packed an unforgettable punch with the addition of unprecedented drum machines and synthesiers from Manning.

As Manning’s ever-evolving sound continued to enhance releases from rock’s biggest names, interest in his work surged. The artist established his own Studio Six in Memphis in 1988 and hosted the likes of George Thorogood and The Destroyers, Joe Cocker, Joe Walsh, Jason & the Nashville Scorchers, Johnny Winter, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and Molly Hatchet in its four years of operation. In 1992, Chris Blackwell invited Manning to Nassau, Bahamas to revitalize the legendary Compass Point Studios, which he quickly restored to its former glory. Manning continued to operate the studio for more the 20 years, where he helmed recordings from Al Green, Sly and Robbie, Lenny Kravitz, Shakira, Shania Twain, Bryan Adams, Crash Test Dummies and more.

Beyond his expansive musical career, Manning also held a lifelong interest in photography. He was close with color photography popularizer and master William Eggleston and worked with such noted artists as William Christenberry, Lee Friedlander and Diane Arbus. Manning connected his passions as a rock photographer, shooting the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Janis Jopin, Chuck Berry, Dusty Springfield, Procol Harum and many more for both the artists and NME, to which he contributed writing and images for many years.

In the last act of his prolific career, Manning turned his attention to his own projects. In the mid ‘90s, he established Lucky Seven Records to issue projects from throughout his years at the epicenter of R&B, soul, blues and rock–including the long-awaited Rock City recordings. Since 2013, he released his own original recordings through the label, beginning with West Texas Skyline, a full-length tribute to Fuller. On January 5, he released his fifth studio album Red and Black.

Manning is survived by his wife, who confirmed the legendary musician’s passing due to an accidental fall at home. He will be remembered as a defining figure for the Memphis sound, whose fearless innovation left an indelible mark on the history of rock and gave listeners everywhere some of the greatest albums ever recorded. For more information on Manning’s life and legacy, visit terrymanning.com.