About this artist
Robert George "Joe" Meek was an English record producer, musician, sound engineer and songwriter who pioneered space age and experimental pop music. He also assisted the development of recording practices like overdubbing, sampling and reverb. Meek is considered one of the most influential sound engineers of all time, being one of the first to develop ideas such as the recording studio as an instrument, and becoming one of the first producers to be recognized for his individual identity as an artist.
Meek's charting singles he produced for other artists include "Johnny Remember Me", "Just Like Eddie", "Angela Jones", "Have I the Right?", and "Tribute to Buddy Holly". The Tornados' instrumental "Telstar", written and produced by Meek, became the first record by a British rock group to reach number one in the US Hot 100. It also spent five weeks at number one in the UK singles chart, with Meek receiving an Ivor Novello Award for this production as the "Best-Selling A-Side" of 1962. He also produced music for films such as Live It Up!, a pop music film. Meek's concept album I Hear a New World, which contains innovative use of electronic sounds, was not fully released in his lifetime.