Edward John "Ted" Templeman (born October 24, 1942) is an American record producer. Among the acts he has a long relationship with are the rock bands

Van Halen Van Halen ( ) was an American rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. Credited with "restoring hard rock to the forefront of the music scene", Van Halen was known for its energetic live shows and for the virtuosity of its lead gu ...

and the

Doobie Brothers The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band formed in 1970 in San Jose, California, known for their flexibility in performing across numerous genres and their vocal harmonies. Active for five decades, with their greatest success in the 1970s, ...

and the singer

Van Morrison Sir George Ivan Morrison (born 31 August 1945), known professionally as Van Morrison, is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose recording career spans seven decades. He has won two Grammy Awards. As a teenager in t ...

; he produced multiple critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums by each of them.

Career

Templeman was born in

Santa Cruz, California Santa Cruz (Spanish for "Holy Cross") is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, in Northern California. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 62,956. Situated on the northern edge of Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz is a pop ...

, where he began his career in the mid 1960s as a drummer in a band called The Tikis. At the suggestion of Warner Brothers staff producer Lenny Waronker, the group decided to change their name to

Harpers Bizarre Harpers Bizarre was an American sunshine pop band of the 1960s, best known for their Broadway/sunshine pop sound and their cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)." Career Harpers Bizarre was formed out of th ...

in 1966 with Templeman switching to guitar and vocals. In 1967, the group released the album '' Feelin' Groovy'' (

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

), which included material by

Randy Newman Randall Stuart Newman (born November 28, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist known for his Southern American English, Southern-accented singing style, early Americana (music), Americana-influenced songs (often ...

that later appeared on the songwriter's 1972 album '' Sail Away''. Harpers Bizarre disbanded in 1970. That same year, Templeman recorded what is now considered a cult classic. Using doubletracking, he appeared as "The Templeton Twins" backed by "Teddy Turner & his Bunsen Burners", recording contemporary hits of the time such as "Hey Jude" and "Light My Fire" in a pseudo-1920s style. In September 1970, Templeman began working in an entry-level A & R position for

Warner Bros. Records Warner Records Inc. (formerly Warner Bros. Records Inc.) is an American record label. A subsidiary of the Warner Music Group, it is headquartered in Los Angeles, California. It was founded on March 19, 1958, as the recorded music division of the ...

, auditioning demo tapes by unknown artists. It was then he discovered the San Jose-based biker band the

, and produced their eponymous ''

The Doobie Brothers The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band formed in 1970 in San Jose, California, known for their flexibility in performing across numerous genres and their vocal harmonies. Active for five decades, with their greatest success in the 1970s, ...

'' debut album, followed the next year by the Doobies' ''

Toulouse Street ''Toulouse Street'' is the second studio album by American rock band the Doobie Brothers. It was released on July 1, 1972, by Warner Bros. Records. It was the band's first album with bassist Tiran Porter and second with drummer Michael Hoss ...

'' album, which achieved

platinum record Music recording certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped, sold, or streamed a certain number of units. The threshold quantity varies by type (such as album, single, music video) and by nation or territory (see ...

status on the strength of the hit single "

Listen to the Music "Listen to the Music" is a song recorded by the Doobie Brothers on their second album ''Toulouse Street''. The song was the Doobie Brothers' first big hit in 1972. It was written by Tom Johnston. Song Writer Tom Johnston described the motivatio ...

". After the success of Toulouse Street, Templeman was promoted to staff producer at Warner Bros. Records and continued a long professional relationship with the Doobie Brothers, producing many more hit singles and albums for the group. Much of his production work, throughout his career, was done in collaboration with recording engineer

Donn Landee Donn Landee is an United States of America, American record producer and recording engineer. Much of his work as an engineer has been done with producer Ted Templeman at Sunset Sound Recorders in Hollywood, Cal. The pair worked with a wide varie ...

Sunset Sound Recorders Sunset Sound Recorders is a recording studio in Hollywood, California, United States located at 6650 Sunset Boulevard. Background The Sunset Sound Recorders complex was created by Walt Disney's Director of Recording, Tutti Camarata, from a collec ...

in Hollywood, California. In 1973, Templeman produced another classic and eponymous album, '' Montrose,'' which was released in November of that year. The group was founded by guitarist and group leader

Ronnie Montrose Ronald Douglas Montrose (November 29, 1947 – March 3, 2012) was an American guitarist who founded and led the rock bands Montrose and Gamma. He also performed and did session work with a variety of musicians, including Van Morrison, Herbie H ...

(who had worked with singers such as

and

Edgar Winter Edgar Holland Winter (born December 28, 1946) is an American musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist, playing keyboards, guitar, saxophone, and percussion, as well as singing. His success peaked in the 1970s with his band the Edgar Winter Group ...

), and an up-and-coming singer,

Sammy Hagar Samuel Roy Hagar (born October 13, 1947), also known as the Red Rocker, is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He rose to prominence in the early 1970s with the hard rock band Montrose and subsequently launched a successful solo car ...

, who brought songs like "Bad Motor Scooter" and "Make It Last" to the guitarist. (The following decade, Templeman produced albums for Hagar's solo project and later as lead singer with

.) It was during this period that he was made a vice-president at the record label. In 1976, he produced

Carly Simon Carly Elisabeth Simon (born June 25, 1943) is an American singer-songwriter, memoirist, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records; her 13 Top 40 U.S. hits include "Anticipation" (No. 13), " The Right Thin ...

's sixth studio album, ''

Another Passenger ''Another Passenger'' is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records, on June 5, 1976. For this album, Simon enlisted a new producer, Ted Templeman, as well as his clients, The Doobie Brothers ...

'', for which he arranged both the Doobie Brothers and

Little Feat Little Feat is an American rock band formed by lead vocalist and guitarist Lowell George and keyboardist Bill Payne in 1969 in Los Angeles. George disbanded the group because of creative differences shortly before his death in 1979. Surviving ...

to serve as Simon's backing band. The album was not as commercially oriented as her previous work with producer

Richard Perry Richard Van Perry (born June 18, 1942) is an American record producer. He began as a performer in his adolescence while attending Poly Prep, his high school in Brooklyn. After graduating from college he rose through the late 1960s and early 1970 ...

, and its first single, a cover of the Doobies' "It Keeps You Runnin", did not reach the Top 40. However, the album received critical praise and many of its songs received airplay on album-oriented

FM radio FM broadcasting is a method of radio broadcasting using frequency modulation (FM). Invented in 1933 by American engineer Edwin Armstrong, wide-band FM is used worldwide to provide high fidelity sound over broadcast radio. FM broadcasting is cap ...

stations. On February 2, 1977, Templeman witnessed a live performance by

at The Starwood Lounge in Hollywood and persuaded Warner Bros. Chairman

Mo Ostin Mo Ostin (born Morris Meyer Ostrofsky; March 27, 1927 – July 31, 2022) was an American record executive who worked for several companies, including Verve, Reprise Records, Warner Bros. Records, and DreamWorks. He was chairman and chief ex ...

that he should sign the group. Templeman produced their self-titled first album and went on to produce six more albums for Van Halen. Templeman's voice is heard in the song " Unchained", saying "Come on Dave, gimme a break!" Lead singer

David Lee Roth David Lee Roth (born October 10, 1954) is an American rock singer. Best known for his wild, energetic stage persona, he was the original lead vocalist of the hard rock band Van Halen across three stints, from 1974 to 1985, in 1996 and again fro ...

replies "One break, coming up!", leading into the song's chorus. Templeman also produced Roth's first two solo records, the EP '' Crazy from the Heat'' and the album ''

Eat 'Em and Smile ''Eat 'Em and Smile'' is the debut studio album by former Van Halen singer David Lee Roth, released on July 7, 1986, after his unpredicted successful debut EP '' Crazy from the Heat'' (1985). History After releasing '' Crazy from the Heat'', a ...

''. Other artists produced by Templeman include

(''

Tupelo Honey ''Tupelo Honey'' is the fifth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released in October 1971 by Warner Bros. Records. Morrison had written all of the songs on the album in Woodstock, New York, before his move ...

'', ''

Saint Dominic's Preview ''Saint Dominic's Preview'' is the sixth studio album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It was released in July 1972 by Warner Bros. Records. ''Rolling Stone'' declared it "the best-produced, most ambitious Van Morrison record y ...

'', ''

It's Too Late to Stop Now ''It's Too Late to Stop Now'' is a 1974 live double album by Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. It features performances that were recorded in concerts at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, California, the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, ...

''),

Captain Beefheart Don Van Vliet (; born Don Glen Vliet; January 15, 1941 – December 17, 2010) was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. Conducting a rotating ensemble known as Th ...

(''

Clear Spot ''Clear Spot'' is the seventh studio album by Captain Beefheart and the Magic Band. It was originally released on LP in 1972 in a clear plastic sleeve. Production Beefheart's third album ''Trout Mask Replica'' established him as a critically ac ...

''),

(''

Sailin' Shoes ''Sailin' Shoes'' is the second studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 1972. Produced by Ted Templeman, it marked a shift away from the sound of the band's eponymous debut, to that of their subsequent album, ''Dixie Chi ...

''), Michael McDonald (''If That's What It Takes''),

Aerosmith Aerosmith is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Boston in 1970. The group consists of Steven Tyler (lead vocals), Joe Perry (musician), Joe Perry (guitar), Tom Hamilton (musician), Tom Hamilton (bass), Joey Kramer (drums) and Brad Whi ...

(''

Done with Mirrors ''Done with Mirrors'' is the eighth studio album by American rock band Aerosmith, released on November 4, 1985. It marked the return to the band of guitarists Joe Perry, who left in 1979 and Brad Whitford, who departed in 1981. The band's first ...

''),

Eric Clapton Eric Patrick Clapton (born 1945) is an English rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He is often regarded as one of the most successful and influential guitarists in rock music. Clapton ranked second in ''Rolling Stone''s list of ...

('' Behind the Sun''),

Nicolette Larson Nicolette Larson (July 17, 1952 – December 16, 1997) was an American singer. She is perhaps best known for her work in the late 1970s with Neil Young and her 1978 hit single of Young's "Lotta Love", which hit No. 1 on the Hot Adult Contem ...

Bette Midler Bette Midler (;''Inside the Actors Studio'', 2004 born December 1, 1945) is an American singer, actress, comedian and author. Throughout her career, which spans over five decades, Midler has received List of awards and nominations received by Be ...

Allan Holdsworth Allan Holdsworth (6 August 1946 – 15 April 2017) was a British jazz fusion and progressive rock guitarist and composer. Holdsworth was known for his esoteric and idiosyncratic usage of advanced music theory concepts, especially with respe ...

, and

Cheap Trick Cheap Trick is an American rock band from Rockford, Illinois, formed in 1973 by guitarist Rick Nielsen, bassist Tom Petersson, lead vocalist Robin Zander and drummer Bun E. Carlos. The current lineup of the band consists of Zander, Nielsen and ...

. Since the late 1980s, Templeman has worked more sporadically. In the mid-2000s, he produced two albums by

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts Joan Jett (born Joan Marie Larkin, September 22, 1958) is an American singer, guitarist, record producer, and actress. Jett is best known for her work as the frontwoman of her band Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and for earlier founding and per ...

, and in 2008 he began working with the Doobie Brothers again on a new album.

In popular culture

Community A community is a social unit (a group of living things) with commonality such as place, norms, religion, values, customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given geographical area (e.g. a country, village, tow ...

'' creator and ''

Channel 101 Channel 101 is a non-profit monthly short film festival in Los Angeles, which has a sister festival in New York City, Channel 101 NY. Channel 101 is a creation of Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab in which participants submit a short film in the format ...

'' co-creator

Dan Harmon Daniel James Harmon (born January 3, 1973) is an American writer, producer, and actor. He is best known as the creator and producer of the NBC/Yahoo! Screen sitcom ''Community'' (2009–2015), creator and host of the comedy podcast '' Harmontow ...

portrayed a fictionalized version of Templeman on the ''Channel 101'' web series ''

Yacht Rock Yacht rock (originally known as the West Coast soundThat ' ...

'', a satirical history of

soft rock Soft rock is a form of rock music that originated in the late 1960s in Southern California and the United Kingdom which smoothed over the edges of singer-songwriter and pop rock, relying on simple, melodic songs with big, lush productions. S ...

. Two episodes of the series fictionalize Templeman's collaborations with The Doobie Brothers, Michael McDonald, and Van Halen.Sail Away: The Oral History of 'Yacht Rock'

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...

As producer

* ''

'',

(1971) (co-produced with Lenny Waronker) * ''

'',

(1971) (co-produced with Van Morrison) * ''

'',

(1972) (co-produced with Don Van Vliet) * ''

'',

(1972) (co-produced with Van Morrison) * ''

'',

(1972) * ''

'',

(1972) * ''

The Captain and Me ''The Captain and Me'' is the third studio album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers. The album was released on March 2, 1973, by Warner Bros. Records. It features some of their most popular hits including "Long Train Runnin'", " China Gr ...

'',

(1973) * '' Montrose'', Montrose (1973) * '' Chunky, Novi & Ernie'', Chunky, Novi and Ernie (1973) (co-produced with

John Cale John Davies Cale (born 9 March 1942) is a Welsh musician, composer, singer, songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the American rock band the Velvet Underground. Over his six-decade career, Cale has worked in various styl ...

) * ''

What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits ''What Were Once Vices Are Now Habits'' is the fourth studio album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers. The album was released on February 1, 1974, by Warner Bros. Records. Recording and content Tom Johnston's "Another Park, Another Sun ...

'',

(1974) * ''

Paper Money A banknote—also called a bill (North American English), paper money, or simply a note—is a type of negotiable promissory note, made by a bank or other licensed authority, payable to the bearer on demand. Banknotes were originally issued ...

'', Montrose (1974) (co-produced with Montrose) * ''

'',

(1974) * ''

Stampede A stampede () is a situation in which a group of large animals suddenly start running in the same direction, especially because they are excited or frightened. Non-human species associated with stampede behavior include zebras, cattle, elephants ...

'',

(1975) * ''

The Beau Brummels The Beau Brummels was an American rock band. Formed in San Francisco in 1964, the band's original lineup included Sal Valentino (lead vocals), Ron Elliott (lead guitar), Ron Meagher (bass guitar), Declan Mulligan (rhythm guitar, bass, harmo ...

'',

(1975) * ''

'',

(1976) * '' Takin' It to the Streets'',

(1976) * ''

Livin' on the Fault Line ''Livin' on the Fault Line'' is the seventh studio album by the American rock band The Doobie Brothers. The album was released on August 19, 1977, by Warner Bros. Records. It is one of the few Doobie Brothers albums of the 1970s which did not ...

'',

(1977) * ''

Time Loves a Hero ''Time Loves a Hero'' is the sixth studio album by the American rock band Little Feat, released in 1977. The album's cover art is by Neon Park. ''Record World'' called the title track "a philosophical, mid -tempo funk tune with some interesting ...

'',

(1977) * ''

Minute by Minute ''Minute by Minute'' is the eighth studio album by American rock band The Doobie Brothers, released on December 1, 1978, by Warner Bros. Records. It was their last album to include members John Hartman (until '' Cycles'') and Jeff "Skunk" Bax ...

'',

(1978) * ''

,''

(1978) * ''Nicolette'',

(1978) * ''

Van Halen II ''Van Halen II'' is the second studio album by American rock band Van Halen. Released on March 23, 1979, it peaked at number six on the ''Billboard'' 200 and spawned the singles " Dance the Night Away" and " Beautiful Girls". As of 2004, it has s ...

,''

(1979) * ''Everything You've Heard Is True'', Tom Johnston (1979) * '' In the Nick of Time'',

(1979) * ''Live at the Roxy'',

(1979) * '' One Step Closer'',

(1980) * ''

Women and Children First ''Women and Children First'' is the third studio album by American Rock music, rock band Van Halen, released on March 26, 1980, on Warner Bros. Records. Produced by Ted Templeman and engineered by Donn Landee, it was the first Van Halen album no ...

'',

(1980) * '' Radioland'',

(1981) * '' Fair Warning'',

(1981) * '' If That's What It Takes'', Michael McDonald (1982) * ''

Diver Down ''Diver Down'' is the fifth studio album by American rock band Van Halen and was released on April 14, 1982. It spent 65 weeks on the album chart in the United States and had, by 1998, sold four million copies in the United States. Background ...

'',

(1982) * ''

All Dressed Up and No Place to Go ''All Dressed Up and No Place to Go'' is the fourth studio album by American singer Nicolette Larson. It was produced by Andrew Gold and released by Warner Bros. Records in 1982. Background ''All Dressed Up and No Place to Go'' was produced by A ...

'',

(1980) (Executive Producer) * ''Carrera'', Carrera (1983) * '' Road Games'',

(1983) (Executive Producer) * ''

Farewell Tour A concert tour (or simply tour) is a series of concerts by an artist or group of artists in different cities, countries or locations. Often concert tours are named to differentiate different tours by the same artist and to associate a specific to ...

'',

(1983) * ''Arcade'',

Patrick Simmons Patrick Simmons (born October 19, 1948) is an American musician best known as a founding member of the rock band The Doobie Brothers. Born in Aberdeen, Washington, he has been the only consistent member of the band throughout their tenure. Simm ...

(1983) * ''

1984 Events January * January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888. * January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeast A ...

'',

(1984) * ''

VOA Voice of America (VOA or VoA) is the state-owned news network and international radio broadcaster of the United States of America. It is the largest and oldest U.S.-funded international broadcaster. VOA produces digital, TV, and radio content ...

'',

(1984) * ''Combonation'', Combonation (1984) * '' Crazy from the Heat'',

(1985) * '' Behind the Sun'',

(1985) (co-produced several tracks with Lenny Waronker; other tracks produced by

Phil Collins Philip David Charles Collins (born 30 January 1951) is an English singer, musician, songwriter, record producer and actor. He was the drummer and lead singer of the rock band Genesis and also has a career as a solo performer. Between 1982 and ...

) * ''

'',

(1985) * ''

No Lookin' Back ''No Lookin' Back'' is the second solo studio album by American musician Michael McDonald. It was released on July 30, 1985 by Warner Bros. Records, three years after his debut studio album, '' If That's What It Takes'' (1982); this was his ...

'', Michael McDonald (co-produced with Michael McDonald & George Perilli) * ''

'',

(1986) * '' Racing After Midnight'',

Honeymoon Suite Honeymoon Suite is a Canadian rock band formed in 1981 in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The band's name was a nod to the fact that Niagara Falls is the unofficial honeymoon capital of the world. History 1981–1985 The band was originally formed ...

(1988) * ''

BulletBoys BulletBoys is an American hard rock/glam metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1986. The group's original lineup was composed of singer Marq Torien (formerly of Ratt, King Kobra, and Kagny & the Dirty Rats), guitarist Mick Sweda, bassist Lonnie V ...

'',

(1988) * ''Take It to the Heart'', Michael McDonald (co-produced with Michael McDonald and Don Was) * ''Private Life,''

Private Life Private Life may refer to: *life in the private sphere The private sphere is the complement or opposite to the public sphere. The private sphere is a certain sector of societal life in which an individual enjoys a degree of authority, unhampered by ...

(1989) (co-produced with

Edward Van Halen Edward Lodewijk Van Halen ( , ; January 26, 1955 – October 6, 2020) was an American musician and songwriter. He was the guitarist, keyboardist, backing vocalist, and primary songwriter of the rock band Van Halen, which he co-founded along ...

and

) * ''Atomic Playboys'',

Steve Stevens Steve Stevens (born Steven Bruce Schneider; May 5, 1959) is an American guitarist. He is best known as Billy Idol's guitarist and songwriting collaborator, and for his lead guitar work on the theme to ''Top Gun'' – "Top Gun Anthem" – for w ...

(1989) (Exec. Producer) * ''Shadows'', Private Life (1990) (co-produced with

and

) * '' Freakshow'',

(1991) * ''

For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge ''For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge'' (often abbreviated as F.U.C.K.) is the ninth studio album by American rock band Van Halen. It was released on June 17, 1991, on Warner Bros. Records and is the third to feature vocalist Sammy Hagar. It debute ...

'',

(1991) (co-produced with

Andy Johns Jeremy Andrew "Andy" Johns (20 May 1950 – 7 April 2013) was a British sound engineer and record producer who worked on several well-known rock albums, including the Rolling Stones' '' Exile on Main St.'' (1972), Television's '' Marquee Moon'' ...

) * ''Lightning Rod Man'',

Lowell George Lowell Thomas George (April 13, 1945 – June 29, 1979) was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer, who was the primary guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and founder/leader for the rock band Little Feat. Ear ...

& the Factory (1993) * ''

Za-Za ''Za-Za'' is the third album from the heavy metal band BulletBoys, released in 1993. This was their last album released by Warner Bros. Records, and the final one produced by Ted Templeman. Track listing Personnel * Marq Torien - lead vocals ...

'',

(1993) * ''Seducing Down the Door: A Collection, 1970-1990'',

(1994) * ''Woke Up With a Monster'',

(1994) * ''

Mugzy's Move ''Mugzy's Move'' is an album by the American band Royal Crown Revue, released in 1996. The album cover art was inspired by classic pulp fiction. The album peaked at No. 11 on ''Billboard'' Jazz Albums chart. The band supported ''Mugzy's Move'' by ...

'',

Royal Crown Revue Royal Crown Revue was a band formed in 1989 in Los Angeles, California. They have been credited with starting the swing revival movement. Career The band contained Mark and Adam Stern. Other members included Daniel Glass, Scott Steen, James Ac ...

(1996) * ''The Contender'',

(1998) * ''Bathhouse Betty'',

(1998) * '' The Philosopher's Stone'',

(1998) * ''Talk To Your Daughter'',

Robben Ford Robben Lee Ford (born December 16, 1951) is an American blues, jazz, and rock guitarist. He was a member of the L.A. Express and Yellowjackets and has collaborated with Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, George Harrison, Larry Carlton, Rick Springfield ...

(1998) (Executive Producer) * ''

The Postman ''The Postman'' is a post-apocalyptic dystopia science fiction novel by David Brin. It is about a man wandering the desolate Oregon countryside who finds a United States Postal Service uniform, which he puts on and then claims he is a mail carri ...

: Music From the Original Motion Picture'', Various Artists (1997) (produced 'You Didn't Have to be So Nice,' by Amy Grant and Kevin Costner) * ''Naked'',

(2004) (co-produced with Kenny Laguna, Bob Rock, Joey Levine, and Joan Jett) * ''Sinners'',

(2006) * ''World Gone Crazy'',

(2010)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Templeman, Ted 1942 births Living people Record producers from California Grammy Award winners People from Santa Cruz, California

Career

In popular culture

As producer

References

Further reading

External links