HOW HE GOT THE GOLD: For Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music and Lyrics in 1992, as composer for the HBO television movie Cast a Deadly Spell.
NOW FOR THE NOMS: Sobel was also nominated for sound editing in 1985.
ON LOSING HIS HOME IN THE PALISADES FIRE: "We’ve had warnings before but never had to evacuate, so I just grabbed my two favorite guitars plus my ProTools rig and hard drives associated with the film I was working on. My wife and I stayed with our son in Long Beach and tried to wrap our heads around what was going on. Watching the news was sickening. Days later, when a friend went by our home, he sent a video. Even when you think you’re prepared, seeing the barren rubble was devastating. Our home of 34 years where we raised our three sons, all photos, videos and treasures — gone."
BUILDING BACK: "I’m hoping to get another upright piano, and if that happens, my replacement Emmy will live prominently on top of it, so she can be part of our new chapter."
HEALING NOTES: "Having a supportive family and many incredibly kind old and new friends who reached out and offered their help gave us faith that we’ll be all right. Since the fire, continuing editing and getting back to writing and recording has been grounding in a way I didn’t expect. Some of everything I’ve been feeling is working its way into new songs, and I’m hoping to share them soon."
This article originally appeared in emmy Magazine, issue #1, 2026.
