Gabriel Mekler

Gabriel Mekler (1942–1977) was a songwriter, musician, and record producer who attained fame in the 1960s, helming classic albums for Steppenwolf, Three Dog Night, and Janis Joplin. He also collaborated with R&B singer Etta James for two critically acclaimed albums in the early 1970s, mixing blues, soul, jazz and rock.

Career

Born in what is now Israel, Mekler was a classically trained pianist. Upon arriving in Los Angeles, California, Mekler sought out Dunhill Records and was hired as a staff producer despite his lack of production experience or familiarity with rock and roll and pop music. His first project at Dunhill was with folk-pop band The Lamp of Childhood where he oversaw studio sessions, contributed songs and played piano. The group's three singles flopped but Mekler's next project, Steppenwolf, made music history. It was Mekler himself who suggested the name "Steppenwolf" to the band's members, having just read the Herman Hesse novel. As the producer on Steppenwolf, the 1968 debut by that group, Mekler helped craft the sonic onslaught that would unleash the term "heavy metal" upon the world, a line from the brother of drummer, Jerry Edmonton, in a song entitled "Born To Be Wild". The mysterious Mars Bonfire was, in reality, Dennis Edmonton, lead guitarist for Jack London & The Sparrows which would obtain the services of Jerry Edmonton on drums. The Oshawa, Ontario group was the beginnings of Steppenwolf and producer Mekler's contributions on psychedelic masterpieces such as "Born To Be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride", though immense, never garnered him the recognition afforded record producers such as George Martin, Jimmy Miller, Phil Spector and David Foster, men who would become as identified with the music they helped create as major movie directors would be with their notable films. A year after the Steppenwolf recordings Mekler would launch hits from Three Dog Night such as "One", "Try A Little Tenderness", "Eli's Coming", "Easy To Be Hard" and "Celebrate". Other studio credits include keyboard work with Cher, Donovan and David Clayton-Thomas as well as producing songs for Dinah Washington.

In 1971, Mekler founded his own labels, Vulture and Lizard Records, based on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. Artists signed to Lizard/Vulture included Nolan Porter, Clydie King, Paul Humphrey & the Cool Aid Chemists and The Frantics. Despite national chart success both Vulture and Lizard Records collapsed in mid 1972. Mekler remained in demand for his production talent until his death from a motorcycle accident in September 1977.

When Sony Music re-released the Janis Joplin recordings produced by Mekler on the 40th Anniversary of Woodstock, it was another acknowledgment of their importance. Mekler's brilliant work was overshadowed in the media by P.R. campaigns that highlighted equally talented individuals over this important and, (somewhat) unknown pioneer of psychedelic music and late 1960s pop. Mekler also produced Genya Ravan's Goldie Zelkowitz record, the title utilizing her stage name from The Gingerbreads and her fathers last name as he died during this production.

References

Produced Genya Ravan's Goldie Zelkowitz Record that name was chosen as a tribute to her father who died during the production of this record.