Walter Edward Meskell (born 1948, died August 19, 2024) was an American musician and record producer with numerous credits to his name, including producing and/or writing several top 10 hits for Tony DeFranco and the DeFranco Family amongst other accomplishments.
He developed into a talented musician, specializing in banjo and guitar, and by his late teens was playing professionally.
He got his big break performing with Doc Severinsen and playing banjo in The Tonight Show Band.
He wrote songs which were recorded by many well-known artists of the time, including Sammy Davis Jr. Meskell went on to work as one of the top session musicians in Los Angeles during the 1960s, playing with The Wrecking Crew drummer Hal Blaine and guitarist Larry Carlton amongst others.
In 1973, he co-produced Tony DeFranco and the De Franco Family's bubblegum pop debut album, which scored the top selling single of 1973, "Heartbeat, It's a Lovebeat".