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Tony Peluso

Multi-instrumentalist, writer and Motown and Latin music producer (winner of four Grammy awards). Born March 28, 1950, Los Angeles, California, USA. Died June 5, 2010, in Los Angeles, California, USA. Began his career as a founding member and lead guitarist of Los Angeles-based psychedelic rock band [a=The Abstracts] in high school. In 1971, his group Instant Joy, a backing band for [a=Mark Lindsay], opened for The [a=Carpenters]. Played lead guitar for [a=Carpenters], both on tour and on many studio recordings, perhaps most notably the fuzz guitar solo on "[m=223695]." He also voiced the role of the DJ on side 2 of their "[m=85055]" album, a role that he later reprised on "[m=84967]." He co-produced dozens of records for artists such as [a=Smokey Robinson], [a=Temptations], the [a=The Four Tops] and [a=Michael Jackson]. During the '80s and '90s, he produced and or engineered albums for artists such as [a=Kenny Loggins], [a=Seals & Crofts], [a=Apollonia], [a=Animotion], [a=Stephanie Mills], [a=Fixx], [a=Dave Koz], and [a=Boyz II Men] with [a=Selena].