Ted Templeman

A Platinum Producer's Life in Music

By: Ted Templeman, Greg Renoff

Narrated by: Sean Runnette

Crafting smash hits with Van Halen, the Doobie Brothers, Nicolette Larson, and Van Morrison, legendary music producer Ted Templeman changed the course of rock history.

This autobiography (as told to Greg Renoff) recounts Templeman's remarkable life from child jazz phenom in Santa Cruz, California, in the 1950s to Grammy-winning music executive during the '70s and '80s. Along the way, Ted details his late-'60s stint as an unlikely star with the sunshine pop outfit Harpers Bizarre and his grind-it-out days as a Warner Bros. tape listener, including the life-altering moment that launched his career as a producer: his discovery of the Doobie Brothers.

Ted Templeman: A Platinum Producer's Life in Music takes us into the studio sessions of number one hits like "Black Water" by the Doobie Brothers and "Jump" by Van Halen, as Ted recounts memories and the behind-the-scene dramas that engulfed both massively successful acts. Throughout, Ted also reveals the inner workings of his professional and personal relationships with some of the most talented and successful recording artists in history, including Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Eric Clapton, Lowell George, Sammy Hagar, Linda Ronstadt, David Lee Roth, and Carly Simon.

©2020 Ted Templeman (P)2020 Tantor

The Incomparable Ted Templeman!

Hearing Ted's incredible story in life and music was something I'd hope to get a chance to experience one day and even though I'm disappointed Ted didn't read it himself, I got over it when his stories and experiences filled my ears and mind.

From his time working with The Doobie Brothers, Van Halen, Sammy Hagar, David Lee Roth, Michael McDonald, Bulletboys and so many more including producer Andy Johns and engineer Don Landee, Ted's storytelling mesmerized me as I've listened to dozens of his productions through the years and been a fan of many.

I loved listening to every musical moment he went through and my only regret is that the book didn't go into even more detail and wasn't longer.

Templeman has lived an incredible life (so far). Thank you Ted for sharing so much in the book and giving so much through music. With Van Halen alone, you changed the face and sound of rock.

Excellent

Entertaining from the first paragraph. The narrator makes you feel as though he is talking to you.

Good stories from inside the studio

Must have for Van Halen fans wanting more inside info to those early sessions. Great book for anyone who wants to know what a major label recruited producer does.

Incredible!

Absolutely amazing. Ted is one of the greatest music producers who’s ever lived. I learned more about producing from this book, then the 30 years I’ve been producing! Incredible behind the scenes of Ted’s amazing catalog of work. Such a wide range from Carly Simon to Van Halen, this book does not disappoint. I hope to meet Ted one day, as he is one of my idols.

More than just Van Halen

If you love books about music and production...this is a great read. Couldn't put this down, one I started it. Ted's early history and formative years are just as interesting as his work with Van Halen and The Doobie Brothers.

Doobie Brothers Montrose Van Halen Carly Nicolette

Enjoyed hearing his whole story as his efforts in his own band reached a ceiling but he had enough talent business acumen and musical ear to establish genuine camaraderie. Commerce and Art with some very human mistakes along the way. Passion for music and friendships prevail also nice reflection on kinder and genuine good times where People ran the machine not the other way around today. Kudos Ted Viva TT!

interesting!

so interesting to get a behind- the- scenes look at these recordings! Ted is neat!

More ToTed Than VH

I found this to be an excellent book. Intially, I listened to it for the Van Halen stuff, but I found the rest of it very engaging. I expected it a to be good, but it was great.

Ted is a Treasure

First of all, Ted should give himself more credit. All through the book, Ted is ready to self examine and find his faults or deficiencies. He’s a humble dude. I appreciate that he’s not a loudmouth or too full of himself, but the dude is a LEGEND. With that said, this book isn’t tough to get through, it has a great flow to it and thankfully Ted’s done the work he’s done. Big credit to the author Greg Renoff, as with his work in Van Halen Rising, this book is full of insights and appears to be ridiculously well researched. (If you’ve not listened to VH Rising, do, it’s such a well put together story.). I’m quite sure I’ll listen again, as reading and listening during COVID-19 has made me (and you) a book worm. Just such a good read, I want to read again and listen again. Enjoy.

Well worth a listen.

I knew the name, and now I feel like I have some insite into the person. Ted's account of the quality of the musicians he worked with really raises my level of respect for them. I would have been really interested to hear Teds take on the current music industry thats more interested in singles than a relationship that can grow a musician or band. i'd describe the current state of the music industry as tragic, and overwhelmingly full of talentless "artists" that are fully created in a studio artificially.