Record producer

In the music industry, "record producer" designates a person responsible for completing a master recording so that it is fit for release. In earlier days, record producers bore the title of A&R men, for Artists and Repertory, which gives a clearer picture of their function: controlling the artists and choosing the material.

In the first part of the 20th century, the record producer's role resembled that of a film producer, in that the record producer supervised recording sessions, paid technicians, musicians and arrangers, and sometimes chose material for the artist. By the 1960s, record producers took a more direct role in the musical process, including arranging, engineering the recording, and even writing the material. Through it all, record producers have had a strong influence, not only on individual careers, but on the course of popular music.

Compare Audio engineer

Notable Record Producers

• John Hammond[?], one of the first, with a career that spanned decades, recorded and produced Leadbelly, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Pete Seeger, and Bruce Springsteen.
• Ralph Peer, pioneer producer, discovered and recorded the Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers, the singing brakeman
• Lester Melrose, pioneer blues A & R man
• Chet Atkins, noted guitarist and creator of smooth "countrypolitan" form of country music.
• Milt Gabler[?], producer of "Rock Around the Clock"
• Les Paul, guitarist and technical innovator in both music and recording, created many common techniques, multi-tracking.
• Buddy Holly, one of the first recording artists to control his own production
• Sir George Martin, producer of the Beatles and recordings of the Goon Show. His Goon Show work was what made the Beatles want him.
• Leonard Chess, producer of "Maybellene", many other rock and roll and blues classics, founder of Chess Records.
• Willie Dixon, bass player and major producer with Chess Records.
• Phil Spector, responsible for the "Wall Of Sound" production style, now mainly associated with girl groups
• T-Bone Burnett, producer for Elvis Costello, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, The Wallflowers[?], Counting Crows, Marshall Crenshaw[?], Sam Phillips, Los Lobos, Bruce Cockburn, Gillian Welch[?], and the soundtrack for the Coen Brothers film, O Brother, Where Art Thou?.
• Sonny Bono, worked with Phil Spector, produced Sonny and Cher records
• Terry Melcher[?], son of Doris Day, produced many acts on Columbia Records, associated with the Beach Boys, auditioned Charles Manson but turned him down.
• Dan Rothchild[?], producer for Better Than Ezra's Deluxe, Fiona Apple's Tidal
• Rick Rubin[?], producer for LL Cool J, System of a Down, Slayer, Danzig and The Black Crowes.
• Steve Lillywhite[?], producer for U2, Dave Matthews Band, XTC, Morrissey and others.
• Nigel Godrich[?], producer for all of Radiohead's material, and some of Beck's.
• Lee Scratch Perry, producer for Bob Marley, and influential in the beginnings of Dub

For more record producers, see List of record producers.