Through the years, there have been several music producers whose status is as legendary as the bands they produced. Phil Spector, who produced acts such as The Ronettes and the Righteous Brothers, and Don Kirshner, who became known as "the man with the golden ear," and Eddie Kramer, who produced Kiss and Jimi Hendrix, are among them. Another legendary music producer is George Martin, whose production style helped define the sound of the Beatles.
Music producers oversee the recording of a band's album. A music producer can often be found at the mixing console, making sure the sound of the album meets her specifications. Many music producers have a distinct sound that can be recognized on albums by varied bands. An example is the Kiss album "Destroyer," produced by Bob Ezrin. The strings and orchestral arrangements on that album represent a Bob Ezrin signature, and produced the Kiss hit "Beth."
A music producer's power extends beyond the studio. Many music producers suggest a bands image for a particular album, including what the cover photo will be and how a band should dress and act during the promotion of an album.
A music producer often brings in musicians outside of the band to achieve a specific sound he doesn't feel he can get from one or more of the players in a band. The practice isn't always met with enthusiasm by the band, but in the end, most bands trust the producer's judgment.
Music producers arrange vocal lessons and coaching if she feels it's needed to help the band achieve success. A good music producer can be the difference between a platinum album and one that ends up in the sale bins. This is why musicians relying on a sought-after producer will do just about anything suggested by the producer to make the band successful.