Kyle Townsend
| Kyle Townsend | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kyle Dwayne Townsend |
| Born | September 21, 1978 |
| Origin | Seattle, Washington, United States |
| Genres | Rock, pop, classical, folk, R&B, jazz, hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Record producer, musician, composer, songwriter |
| Instruments | Piano, Organ, Guitar, Drums, Sampler, Bass |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Associated acts | Celine Dion, Lady Gaga, Mary J. Blige, Diane Warren, Jennifer Hudson, Paloma Faith, Jessie J, Snoop Dogg, The Veronicas, Fifth Harmony |
| Website | www |
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.
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
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
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