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Shel Talmy, producer of British rock classics “My Generation” and “You Really Got Me,” passes away at 87

Shel Talmy, the Chicago-born music producer died on November 13 at his home in Los Angeles. The legendary producer and arranger whose sophisticated scores surrounded some of the most famous British rock hits of the 1960s was 87. Shel Talmy died from complications related to a stroke, his publicist reported.

Talmy was instrumental in influencing the sound of British rock at its nascent stage. In his mid-twenties, he travelled to London on holiday and quickly found himself swept up into the emerging world of music. As an independent producer-a novelty at the time he was able to sign The Kinks and produce several of their biggest hits. These included the raw energy of "You Really Got Me" and the polished satire of "A Well Respected Man" and "Dedicated Follower of Fashion.".

He also worked with The Who, and produced some of the group's defining tracks, including "My Generation" and "Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere." These tracks include Keith Moon's explosive drumming and Roger Daltrey's voice of unique repute. “My Generation” especially gained almost an anthem status as punk because of the pioneering use of guitar feedback there.

He also produced the hits for Chad & Jeremy, "A Summer Song", and Manfred Mann's cover of Bob Dylan's "Just Like a Woman". Talmy has also been credited with The Easybeats' hit "Friday on My Mind". He also worked several early recordings for David Bowie who then was known as Davy Jones. Talmy is also known to have utilised a young Jimmy Page as a guitarist for a session playing for The Kinks.

After the 1960s, Talmy continued working with acts such as Vicki Brown, Band of Joy, and The Damned. His contribution towards music spreads way beyond the work he has produced since there can be seen in his innovations and the work that defined a genre.

Left behind to continue Shel Talmy's legacy are wife Jan Talmy, brother Leonard Talmy, daughter Jonna Sargeant, and granddaughter Shay Berg. In musical fraternity, Talmy was one of the pioneering individuals whose works shaped the sound of generations.