Louis Shelton


William Louis Shelton is an American guitarist and music producer.

Biography

During the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s Shelton was a session musician working in recording studios around Hollywood. Among his more notable session work was for the Monkees, including their first self-titled album, and both recordings of the Boyce and Hart songs, "Last Train to Clarksville", "Valleri", and "(Theme From) The Monkees". Shelton played the flamenco-style guitar solo on "Valleri", which Michael Nesmith had to mimic for the cameras on their TV series. Even after the Monkees began playing on their own records, Shelton remained a favorite among their session players. Shelton was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum, the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame and is a member of the famous group of LA session musicians known as "The [Wrecking Crew (music)|The Wrecking Crew]".
Other recording credits include:
Marvin Gaye,
Simon and Garfunkel,
Stevie Wonder,
Boz Scaggs,
Gladys Knight & the Pips,
the Jackson 5,
Neil Diamond,
John Lennon,
Barbra Streisand,
the Carpenters,
the Mamas & the Papas,
Glen Campbell,
Ella Fitzgerald,
the Partridge Family,
James Brown,
Diana Ross,
Otis Spann,
Whitney Houston,
Joe Cocker,
Kenny Rogers,
Henry Mancini,
Dave Grusin,
Quincy Jones,
Lalo Schifrin and
Victor Wooten. He played the guitar solo on Lionel Richie's hit "Hello", Boz Scaggs's "Lowdown" and David Gates' "Do You Believe He's Coming".
Shelton became a producer in the 1970s, working with recording artists including Seals and Crofts, Art Garfunkel, Amy Wooley, England Dan & John Ford Coley, as well as Australian acts Tracey Arbon, Noiseworks and Southern Sons. He remains active and continues to record, produce, and perform.
He is a 2007 inductee into the Musicians Hall of Fame as a member of the Wrecking Crew. In 2013 he was inducted into the Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame.
Shelton, who now resides in Australia, was reunited with the surviving Monkees during their 2019 Australian tour, and made a special guest appearance with the group, performing his famous guitar part live on "Last Train to Clarksville" at the group's Brisbane concert on 13 June 2019.

Selected discography

As leader

Touch Me Guitar Hot & Spicy Urban Culture Nashville Guitars Souvenir
  • ''Jazz Cafe''

As sideman

With David AcklesSubway to the Country
With Alessi BrothersDriftin
With James BrownSoul on Top
With Solomon BurkeElectronic Magnetism
With Glen CampbellOh Happy Day The Last Time I Saw Her
With Vikki CarrMs. America
With David CassidyCherish Rock Me Baby Dreams Are Nuthin' More Than Wishes
With Sonny & CherMama Was a Rock and Roll Singer, Papa Used to Write All Her Songs
With Merry ClaytonGimme Shelter
With England Dan & John Ford ColeyFables
With Neil DiamondTap Root Manuscript
With The 5th DimensionLiving Together, Growing Together Soul & Inspiration
With Cass ElliotCass Elliot
With José FelicianoJosé Feliciano
With Michael FranksMichael Franks
With The Friends of DistinctionWhatever Love Can Make It Easier
With Marvin GayeLet's Get It On
With Art GarfunkelAngel Clare Breakaway Fate for Breakfast
With David GatesFirst
With Marjoe GortnerBad, but Not Evil
With Lani HallSun Down Lady
With Dan HillIf Dreams Had Wings
With Whitney HoustonWhitney Houston
With The Hues CorporationFreedom for the Stallion
With Al KooperEasy Does It New York City (You're a Woman)
With Peggy LeeBridge over Troubled Water Make It with You Norma Deloris Egstrom from Jamestown, North Dakota
With John LennonRock 'n' Roll
With LuluLulu
With The Mamas & the PapasPeople Like Us
With MelaniePhotograph Seventh Wave
With The MonkeesThe Monkees More of the Monkees The Birds, the Bees & the Monkees Instant Replay Changes
With Wayne NewtonDaddy Don't You Walk So Fast While We're Still Young
With Brenda PattersonBrenda Patterson
With Teddy PendergrassLove Language
With Lionel RichieCan't Slow Down Dancing on the Ceiling
With Austin RobertsThe Last Thing On My Mind
With Kenny RogersShare Your Love
With Boz ScaggsSilk Degrees
With Dan SealsMake It Home
With Judee SillHeart Food
With Otis SpannSweet Giant of the Blues
With Barbra StreisandStoney End Barbra Joan Streisand
With Sarah Vaughan'