Louie Shelton is Awesome, here's why

Hundreds of millions of people have heard him play without having heard of him. A veteran session guitarist, Louie Shelton played on a slew of million-selling records during his three decades in Los Angeles. His credits include female vocalists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Peggy Lee, Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, and Whitney Houston; soul stars James Brown, Smokey Robinson, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and the Jackson Five; blues legends Otis Spann, Solomon Burke, and T-Bone Walker; male vocalists Joe Cocker, Kenny Rogers, Neil Diamond, and Michael McDonald.
He's responsible for the instantly recognizable guitar riff on the Monkees' "Last Train to Clarksville" and the virtuoso runs on "Valleri." He played on Boz Scaggs' career-defining album Silk Degrees (Columbia, 1976) with the Grammy-winning song "Lowdown." He knew Elvis Presley and was in the studio with Phil Spector and John Lennon. He also produced a string of gold and platinum albums for Seals & Crofts, including Summer Breeze (Warner Bros., 1972), an exquisitely produced classic that remained on the charts for 100 weeks.
After decades spent making others sound good, in 1995 he finally put his production expertise to use on a solo instrumental album. Thanks to his funky groove, his mastery of an extraordinarily wide range of styles and techniques, and his producer's ear, this jazz guitar album has a great groove, lots of energy and considerable commercial appeal. His crisp and highly rhythmic adaptation of Wes Montgomery's octave style is noteworthy, and makes all his solo releases easy to enjoy.
His induction into the Musicians Hall of Fame provided the perfect backdrop for this conversation with All About Jazz about his remarkable musical career.
(the introduction to my interview with Louie on AllAboutJazz)
Link to the interview:
www.allaboutja...
Alternatively, you can also listen to an audio version of our interview @
talking2musici...
louieshelton.com/

[@Talking2musicians]

0:30 Louie’s guitar on the Monkees’ “Last Train to Clarksville” 0:42 Louie’s solo on the Monkees’ “Valleri” 1:00 Louie’s tribute to Michael Jackson (he played guitar on the original session) 1:20 Louie on Seals and Crofts “Diamond Girl” 2:02 Louie’s solo on Seals and Crofts “Fire and Vengeance” 2:36 Louie’s playing blues with his long time buddy Larry Carlton 4:05 Louie chicken pickin’

[@BlueFritzie]

Happy to call him a friend! Just an amazingly talented guitar player. Good health to him and his lovely family!

[@robmorrison1043]

One of the greatest players of his generation. If you wanted a hit in the 70s, 80s, just call Louie. His work on Silk Degrees and Lowdown is phenomenal. The man played on so many hits and songs that most people would be amazed.

[@Talking2musicians]

🎸⭐

[@karmicselling4252]

Louie is not only a great musician, he is a very smart man. He emigrated to Australia and lives a wonderful life in sunny Queensland. Cheers from the Land Down Under.

[@Talking2musicians]

He is indeed awesome

[@djizzah]

Great understanding of melody, his simple but beautiful work on Lionel Ritchie's hello and summer breeze, outstanding, his best sounds came from a strat

[@kirkmargo8356]

Mike Nesmith was and is a musician and a songwriter. He and Dolenz, Jones and Tork were singers. Singers are also considered to be musicians. Dolenz, Jones and Tork were also songwriters. While it's accurate to say that The Monkees were initially only a fictitious TV band, it is unfair to say they were not musicians.

[@Talking2musicians]

You're correct, and that's a fair observation.

[@kirkmargo8356]

@@Talking2musicians 👍🏻

[@spindriftdrinker]

Your comment is true, strictly speaking. However, it is also true that after the Monkees were finally allowed to write their own songs and play their instruments live on tour - they quickly saw how badly things were going and reverted to using session musicians and pro songwriters both on tour and in the studio.

[@MrSlikvee]

Yes, they were pseudo-musicians, not anywhere near the caliber of Louis Shelton, but, nonetheless….musicians, I guess.

[@janet.osmonson7451]

​@@MrSlikvee Not too many people Ever were like Louie

[@talldude5841]

Louie Shelton has been one of my all time favorite guitarists for a long time. Just as important, he is a true gentleman and spokesman of the guitar.

[@Talking2musicians]

And he's also a fantastic producer, thanks for stopping by Tall Dude and taking the time to comment.

[@GordiansKnotHere]

He was the music I heard during my very rough childhood and many times it was calming to me. Thank you for your help and some incredible music Louie!

[@Talking2musicians]

Thanks for listening

[@ethelwulfmountbattenderoth2286]

Really really needs to be recognized a lot more.

[@Talking2musicians]

Thanks, and I agree!

[@theoversouls]

Besides his playing - consistently great tones!

[@Talking2musicians]

and almost any style!

[@vidtrax662]

Definitely one of the GOAT!

[@Talking2musicians]

Amen to that.

[@sholland42]

They could do a marathon of the best 100 songs of all time, and on most of them Louie would be like “on this one, here’s what I did”.

[@Talking2musicians]

Yep, a great and gifted player!

[@justinherbert9146]

A lot of the guitar parts Louie played on big hits were not charted by an arranger -- Louie created many of those parts right there and then on the spot at the recording sessions and so many of them fit like a glove -- and really made the recordings that we know and love - that amazes me -- I did not know Louie produced Seals and Crofts - those guy wrote quite a number of hit songs that got tons of airplay -- Louie is not only a brilliant and talented musician but he is a kind, humble man - God Bless Louie Shelton and his family!

[@Talking2musicians]

You are so right, he is an amazingly talented musician, and he was indeed a fantastic producer too. He was very close to Seals & Crofts, he and Dash Crofts married sisters, so they were the uncles of each other's children, and they were in a band together before Seals & Crofts.

[@justinherbert9146]

@@Talking2musicians Wow i did not know that - thanks for that info - the production on those Seals and Crofts records was impeccable

[@Talking2musicians]

@@justinherbert9146 Oh man Justin, Louie knew all the best players, and the studios to get the best sound. Like "Summer Breeze" he went to the studio where they usually did Motown records to get a punchier sound. Read my interview with him on AllAboutJazz, he goes into detail about all that. Link in the description box.

[@tmarielbs]

He’s just the best!

[@ibleebinU]

Louie jammin out the blues with Larry Carlton...doesn't get much better than that!

[@Talking2musicians]

Absolutely right!

[@chrischristi1818]

I just found out that he played the solo on "We're All Alone" by Rita Coolidge... BRILLIANT!!!

[@Talking2musicians]

I need to check that out, thanks for the tip!

[@vidtrax662]

@@Talking2musicians solo was played by Dean Parks

[@Talking2musicians]

@@vidtrax662 Dean Parks is also an absolutely awesome guitarist, thks.

[@6StringPassion.]

Louie Shelton is one of the most talented studio musicians of all time. He also inspired a young Larry Carlton, who's signature jazz sound can be traced directly to Louie's influence.

[@Talking2musicians]

🎸📀

[@tmarielbs]

And they remain close to this day.

[@mckennalynn1916]

Great guy!

[@Talking2musicians]

Absolutely agree!!

[@skipskiperton4992]

let’s not get it twisted, all four Monkees were musicians who became actors, who then played musicians… Davey I believe had done some acting I think theater ….and yes Louie Shelton is incredible!!!!

[@Talking2musicians]

Valid point Skip, I should have been more generous when I put this video together. You're also correct about Davey Jones, he was in the cast of the musical Oliver and appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 -- the very same night the Beatles appeared. Truth be told, there were so many garage bands in the 60s almost any music loving kid from that era could claim to be a musician. But unlike the Doors, Byrds, and on and on, Mike, Davey, Peter, and Micky were recruited to be in a sitcom. Their most recognizable songs were written by professional songwriters, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, and their most enduring hits were played by some of the best studio musicians around. In any case, some good pop music come out of this sitcom, and they did a good job as actors and vocalists.🏆 Again, sorry for offending Monkees fans.

[@skipskiperton4992]

@@Talking2musicians no offense taken, but it’s pretty well known that the fellas were musicians prior to to their monkees acting experience. In addition to Boyce and Hart writing songs for the monkees, other notables that wrote for the show were Carol King, and Neil Diamond

[@Talking2musicians]

@@skipskiperton4992 Thx Skip, I knew Neil D. wrote "I'm a Believer" -- great pop tune, but didn't know about Carol King! What song?

[@skipskiperton4992]

@@Talking2musicians Carole, king and her writing partner of the time Geoffery, Gofin wrote “Pleasant Valley Sunday”

[@Talking2musicians]

@@skipskiperton4992 Wow that's cool, thanks!!!!

[@tmarielbs]

He’s a good man too.

[@Talking2musicians]

Indeed

[@berndluers8612]

Very good stringer

[@Talking2musicians]

yep 🙂

[@philippinestroppoholic7996]

The monkees were also musicians but their producers refused to allow them to play

[@waterlec8718]

Louie should have been a Monkee... Let's be truthful, now, they had Louie doing songs for everyone and Louie just did was he does BEST with no credit...till much much later... his guitar 🎸 playing is AWESOME.... I wonder if each Monkee got paid MORE than Louie... That'd be SHAMEFUL, IF TRUE.

[@Talking2musicians]

Louie went on to become a great producer with Seals & Crofts and played some amazing guitar on their albums too. Great guy and incredible player.

[@doncastleberry6446]

And from my home town. We both stole from Chet

[@Talking2musicians]

The best always stole from Chet😉

[@deomusic8944]

Never heard of him, but heard him! What is the electric sitar solo on the monkees song? I goodgled, no references. Hes great!

[@Talking2musicians]

Hope a Monkees' fan can help with this question.