Who was Shel Talmy? David Bowie and The Kinks producer dies at 87

Famous music producer Shel Talmy passed away on Wednesday, November 13, at the age of 87. Talmy had worked with popular names, including David Bowie, The Kinks, and The Who. A representative of Talmy told Variety that he died in his Los Angeles home from complications caused by a stroke.

Alec Palao, Shel Talmy's publicist, further confirmed that the producer passed away in his sleep. He further said:

"Even the briefest survey of the most essential pop and rock recordings of the 1960s would need to include something Shel produced. That in itself is an incredibly meaningful legacy… Talmy was truly a one-off.”

In a posthumous statement drafted by Talmy, as reported by The Mirror, he wrote:

"I've had a good run, and I am delighted it lasted as long as it did. I'm also delighted that I am told I have a legacy that will last even longer. I look forward to meeting some of you in the future who are reading this, but LOL, don't hurry to get here, I'm not going anywhere."

Born in 1937 in Chicago, Shel Talmy was considered one of the best record producers and arrangers. He has been credited for his works in hit tracks like You Really Got Me, Friday On My Mind, and My Generation.

While Talmy was born in the United States, his work in the UK was what made him a prominent name in the music industry.

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Everything to know about record producer Shel Talmy amid his demise

Born in Chicago, Talmy shifted to Los Angeles and began working as a recording engineer in Hollywood’s Conway Studios. According to The Guardian, Talmy visited the UK in 1962, primarily on a holiday.

The late music producer reportedly loved the rock and pop music era there at the time. Shel Talmy was the man who assisted The Kinks to get signed under Pye Records. He also produced some of his first songs, like Long Tall Sally and You Still Want Me.

Shel Talmy also worked with The Who and produced one of their legendary songs, My Generation. Entertainment Weekly described this hit track as a "quintessential rock single."

In 1989, Shel Talmy spoke about his production style in an interview with British journalist Chris Hunt and said:

"There are two categories of producers. Let me explain. First, one produces an artist the way 'they' want to hear to them, without a whole lot of regard to what the artist is really like, or how they see themselves. I'd like to think that I'm in the other category."

Talmy added:

"I liked the artists that I produced – a lot, or else I wouldn't produce them, and what I wanted to do was enhance what they do already."

In 1955, Talmy graduated from Fairfax High School in L.A. This was shortly before he began working at Conway Studios. Talmy was reportedly interested in music and the technology used in recording studios from a young age. At the age of 13, he regularly appeared on a TV show titled Quiz Kids, which was broadcast on NBC-TV.