Michael Perez-Cisneros, July 18, 1967-June 19, 2026
A lifelong musician, willing mentor and aficionado of really cool gear, Grammy-winning audio engineer Michael Perez-Cisneros-Mike, to many-unexpectedly left us on Friday, June 19th, 2026. But he didn’t leave us empty-handed. Thousands of recordings bear permanent witness to his thoughtful and perceptive attention to detail. It’s no overstatement to say that he was sought by musicians around the world, whether to record, mix or master their work, to help achieve excellent sound, or to dig deep on all manner of subjects from his seemingly limitless pool of knowledge.
Michael was born in New York to immigrant parents-Hanna, a fashion designer and Holocaust survivor from Hamburg, and Pablo, a Cuban exile and cultural preservationist, both of whom predeceased Michael-and grew up in Miami. As a teen, he dove into shared loves of playing baseball and guitars, eventually gigging around town and studying at the University of Miami and Cornish College of the Arts before settling in New York and building a career that cemented his name in the jazz world. Recently, he shared his home base in New York with his beloved Janet, and Nashville, where he continued to hone his skills as a technician always in pursuit of excellence. Michael never stopped learning-his interests were vast and varied. A dedicated cinephile, he especially loved a documentary; he never tired of listening to fellow gearheads talk shop; and he spent hours building guitars and amplifiers, and dismantling countless good electronics to solder their guts into something great.
Those who shared his passions were met with an exceptionally generous advisor and collaborator always ready to investigate solutions and offer encouragement; these relationships meant more to him than accolades. A quick wit and gentle soul, Michael’s legacy will surely endure through the countless artists he influenced, and the many people he befriended and loved.
Michael is survived by his stepmother, Teresa Perez-Cisneros, and many cousins, notably Guy and Karen Perez-Cisneros and Elsie Nachtsheim, with whom he was particularly close, and his partner, Janet Mowat, whom he loved without reserve.
A gathering will be held in New York to pay tribute to Michael in the weeks to come; updated information will be posted here and on social media.
Should you wish to make a gift in his honor, please direct donations to the ASPCA or Nashville Cat Rescue.
For more obituaries visit our obituaries page.
This obituary was published by Phillips-Robinson Funeral Home – Nashville Chapel.
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