Memphis Producers – Memphis Flyer

Teddy Walton

Over two years ago, the Memphis Flyer turned a spotlight on “Memphis’ Hip Hop Renaissance,” and, by way of mentioning this town’s unrecognized talent, we noted the success of young producer Teddy Walton.

By then, he’d already gained considerable traction, beginning with his work for ASAP Rocky in 2015. In 2017, he produced “Love” for Kendrick Lamar, and more tracks for the Pulitzer-Prize-winner on Black Panther: The Album in 2018.

He’s gone from success to success, working with artists such as Drake, Travis Scott, Post Malone, Nipsey Hussle, Future, Bryson Tiller and Chris Brown. Even 2020, the cursed year, has been kind to him, with “No Love,” created with Young Dolph, being released in July. The track is the first single from Walton’s upcoming album, Mental Health.

Producer Teddy Walton Featured in Forbes Magazine

So, it makes sense that his ascension has attracted the attention of the national media. This week, Forbes published one of the most in-depth features on the producer to date. “How Teddy Walton Became One Of Hip-Hop’s Most Savvy Independent Producers,” by Ogden Payne, focuses on Walton’s Memphis roots and how well the producer has managed his success thus far.

Walton promoted the article on his Twitter account, @teddywalton, posting a screenshot of the following passage with the words, “This is my favorite. Read close.”

Betting on himself has served him well thus far. According to his team, Walton owns 100 percent of his publishing rights and once turned down a $2 million deal to retain ownership of his compositions. The late Nipsey Hussle, who was heralded for his independent stance during his career, was also impressed with Walton’s approach to music.

“‘You can’t stand out trying to fit in,’” Hussle told Walton.

He created his debut album, Mental Health, with the same independent mindset. With just the support of producer Aaron Bow, Walton shouldered the burden of architecting his album top to bottom. He didn’t rely on labels or A&Rs to help him secure features; instead he trusted in the tight relationships he’s built directly with artists to this point.

Teddy Walton

Some of Sunday’s Grammy award winners had deep Memphis connections, as local talents continue to put the city on the state-of-the art production map. While Memphis may be best known for renegades who forge their own path, the flipside is that these mavericks ultimately become sought-after contributors in the big leagues for those same innovative approaches.

The city’s musicians and engineers boasted sixteen nominees for works released in 2017, conveniently documented by fellow Memphis blogger and musician John Paul Keith. The one nominated record featuring the most Memphians playing together was surely Robert Cray and Hi Rhythm, but, despite some brilliant band chemistry and an inspiring return to form by the classic Hi Rhythm lineup, the Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Album went to the formidable pairing of Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’.

Surely the Memphis-related winner with the most international exposure was Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN, which won for Best Rap Album. As it’s an album category, Memphis producer and songwriter Travis “Teddy” Walton, who co-wrote and produced the track “Love,” will take home a statuette for his contribution. The video below gives an insider’s view of Walton’s work flow and how he came to work with Lamar.

Big Grammy Wins Have Strong Memphis Ties

Matt Ross-Spang

Meanwhile on the rootsier side, we’ve come to expect great things from producer/engineer Matt Ross-Spang. Two years ago, producer Dave Cobb and engineer Ross-Spang contributed to Jason Isbell’s Grammy win in 2016 for the LP Something More Than Free. Now they’ve done it again, with Isbell’s “If We Were Vampires” winning for Best American Roots Song, and he and his band, the 400 Unit, winning Best Americana Album for their LP The Nashville Sound (both engineered by Ross-Spang). Though the album was recorded in Nashville, Ross-Spang’s role in the latest win bodes well for future work at his home base, Sam Phillips Recording.

Finally, one more Grammy winner had Memphis written all over it: the Best Album Notes award for Otis Redding Live At The Whisky A Go Go: The Complete Recordings. Lynell George, the L.A.-based writer who won the award, clearly found her involvement in the album inspiring. “For me the best part of this award is that it honors both Otis’ dream and his memory,” George told the Los Angeles Times after her win was announced. “L.A. was an integral spot on his path, it represented the next rung of fame — going from star to superstar. Those Whisky shows proved that he was more than ready.”

Otis Redding

As the L.A. Times notes about the 1966 shows featured in the release, “Redding’s appearance brought fiery soul and R&B into the mix, and had a huge impact on those who witnessed the shows, including Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, the Band’s Robbie Robertson, Doors guitarist Robby Krieger and future roots music guru Ry Cooder, whose band Rising Sons with blues musician Taj Mahal, opened for Redding.”