Birth name Kyle Dwayne Townsend Years active 2002–present | Website www.kyletownsend.com Name Kyle Townsend | |
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Origin Seattle, Washington, United States Genres Rock, pop, classical, folk, R&B, jazz, hip hop Occupation(s) Record producer, musician, composer, songwriter Role Record producer · kyletownsend.com Associated acts Celine Dion, Lady Gaga, Diane Warren, Jennifer Hudson, Paloma Faith, Jessie J, Snoop Dogg Similar People Dana Parish, Andrew Goldstein, Kuk Harrell, Eg White, Danny Mercer | ||
Kyle Townsend (born September 21, 1978) is an American record producer, musician and composer. He has produced songs for such acclaimed recording artists as 5-time GRAMMY Award winner Celine Dion, 8-time Academy Award nominated songwriter Diane Warren, as well as Mary J Blige, Lady Gaga, Jessie J, and Academy Award winner Jennifer Hudson among others. He has produced songs for five feature film releases including the 2012 Academy Award nominee for Best Picture, and he produced and arranged music for the 2015 Academy Awards Ceremony. His contributions have earned 2 GRAMMY Award Nominations.
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Early life
Kyle Townsend was raised in the Central District neighborhood of Seattle Washington on historic Jackson Street. This neighborhood was once home to legendary musicians Ray Charles, Quincy Jones and Jimi Hendrix. He was introduced to music by his mother who was a minister, and also served as choir director at the church his family attended. He began piano by ear at age 6, and was installed as organist at his church at age 7. He was mentored by other church musicians from the greater Seattle area, and at the early age of 11 he performed with GRAMMY Award winning gospel recording artist, Reverend Timothy Wright. Not yet in his teens, he was frequently hired to play at weddings and other church events in and around the city. Later, his focus would turn to production during a chance encounter at a local instrument store near Seattle, as he watched a customer making a track on a keyboard workstation. Inspired, he says "Even though I had been a musician all my life, that was the moment I decided to be a producer. It happened in an instant." Within a year, he would be in Los Angeles pursuing a career in music. He is a graduate of Kent-Meridian High School
Production
Townsend would make his first major label album appearance playing keyboards on the 2002 Def Jam release "Ghetto Heisman" by WC. The album debuted at #7 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. He would go on to produce records for Celine Dion, Jennifer Hudson, Diane Warren, Jessie J, Melanie Fiona, Elle Varner, Karmin, Rome Ramirez, Jagged Edge, Ray J, Keyshia Cole, The Saturdays, Frankie J, Sean Kingston, WC, Diana Vickers, Eliza Doolittle, Jessica Mauboy, Keri Hilson, Eva Simons, Union J, Ariana Grande, Jordin Sparks, G.R.L., Leona Lewis, The Veronicas, Paloma Faith, Fifth Harmony, Rumer
His first entry in to music for film came in 2005, when Townsend wrote music that was featured in promotional trailers for the films "Guess Who" starring Ashton Kutcher and Bernie Mac and "xXx: State of the Union" starring Ice Cube.
Along with GRAMMY Award winning producer Rodney Jerkins, Kyle Townsend produced the song "Silver Lining (Crazy Bout You)" performed by Jessie J. for the soundtrack to the film "Silver Linings Playbook". The film stars Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro, Chris Tucker, and is directed by David O. Russell. The film was one of the biggest films of 2012 grossing $236 million worldwide, and received 8 Academy Award nominations including Best Picture, and earned one win for Jennifer Lawrence (Best Actress). The song earned a GRAMMY Nomination for Best Song Written For Visual Media Townsend also composed music for a scene within the film as well.
Townsend produced Celine Dion on the song "Unfinished Song", which served as the title track for the film "Song for Marion" starring Gemma Arterton and Vanessa Redgrave. The song was written by Diane Warren, and the film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2012.
Townsend teamed up again with Diane Warren to produce Snoop Dogg, then "Snoop Lion" for his journey into reggae on his album "Reincarnated". He produced the single "The Good Good" with Terrace Martin, and the album went on to earn a GRAMMY nomination for best Reggae Album at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards in January 2014.
Influences
Townsend cites musicians including Quincy Jones, Kurt Kobain, Phil Spector, John P. Kee, Michael Jackson, Kirk Franklin, J. Ralph, Raphael Saadiq, Rodney Jerkins, Hans Zimmer, John Williams, Jerry Wexler, Irving Berlin, Nat King Cole, Jermone Kern, Pharell Williams, Teddy Riley, The Gershwin Brothers, Prince, Nelson Riddle, Rick Rubin, Diane Warren, and David Foster with having considerable impact on his evolution as a musician and producer. Although he had been a musician since the age of 6, he says he first realized music as being art as a teen when he saw the broadcast of Nirvana's appearance on MTV Unplugged in New York. "It really showed me the world of possibilities that exists in music. It opened my eyes, it was a real breakthrough for me."
Filmography
Films featuring title songs produced by Kyle Townsend: