Shel Talmy is a legendary, American record producer, songwriter, and arranger, best known for his work in the UK in the 1960s with The Who, The Kinks, David Bowie, Jimmy Page, Manfred Mann, The Easybeats, The Creation, and many others. Talmy arranged and produced iconic hits such as “You Really Got Me” by The Kinks, “My Generation” by The Who, and “Friday on My Mind” by The Easybeats. He also played guitar or percussion on some of his productions and helped pioneer early drum recording techniques in the 60s.

Thanks to his work with The Who and The Kinks, Talmy is considered at the forefront of the British music scene in the mid-60s. Talmy returned to the United States in 1979. Though he reduced his workload, Talmy continued to be highly sought after to produce artists. He has produced albums by Fuzztones, Nancy Boy, and Sorrows. Most recently he has produced records by Hidden Charms and Strangers In A Strange Land.

Though he is famous primarily for his contributions to rock music, Talmy also worked with musicians from the folk scene, including Pentangle, Roy Harper, and Ralph McTell. He has also worked in pop, orchestral, and punk categories and remains active as a producer today.