Walter Meskell

Who is Walter Meskell?

Walter Meskell is a notable musician and music producer with numerous credits to his name, including producing and/or writing several top 10 hits for Tony DeFranco and the DeFranco Family amongst other accomplishments. Walt was born to Vernice and John Meskell in 1946. He spent his childhood in Southern California near Pasadena in the city of San Marino, California. He developed into a talented musician, specializing in banjo and guitar, and by his late teens was playing professionally. He got his big break performing with Doc Severinsen and playing banjo in The Tonight Show Band. He wrote songs which were recorded by many well-known artists of the time, including Sammy Davis Jr. Walt went on to work as one of the top session musicians in Los Angeles during the 1960s, playing with Wrecking Crew drummer Hal Blaine and guitarist Larry Carlton amongst others.

In the early 1970s, he worked with Tim Martin. In 1973, he co-produced Tony DeFranco and the De Franco Family's bubblegum pop style debut album, which scored the top selling single of 1973, Heartbeat, It's a Lovebeat. In Quentin Tarantino's film Reservoir Dogs, the song is name checked as a gem from the 70's.