Dr. Luke

Dr. Luke
Gottwald in 2014
Gottwald in 2014
Background information
Birth nameŁukasz Sebastian Gottwald[1]
Also known as
  • Kasz
  • Richard Head
  • Made in China
  • Tyson Trax
  • Loctor Duke[2]
Born (1973-09-26) September 26, 1973 (age 51)
Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.
OriginNew York City, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • record producer
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1996–present
Formerly ofSaturday Night Live Band

Łukasz Sebastian Gottwald (born September 26, 1973),[3] known professionally as Dr. Luke, Tyson Trax, and Made in China, is an American record producer. He began his professional music career as the Saturday Night Live Band band's lead guitarist in 1996. After which, he produced remixes for acts such as Bon Jovi and Gravediggaz, and came into prominence in 2004 for producing Kelly Clarkson's single "Since U Been Gone" with Swedish record producer Max Martin.

Gottwald continued to co-write and produce commercially successful songs such as "Who Knew" (2006) for Pink, "Girlfriend" (2007) for Avril Lavigne,[4] and "I Kissed a Girl" (2008) for Katy Perry, before leaving Saturday Night Live and reuniting with Clarkson for "My Life Would Suck Without You" (2009). As the founder of both Kemosabe Records and Amigo Records, Gottwald has signed artists such as Kesha, Doja Cat, Becky G, Juicy J, R. City, and Lil Bibby to the former, as well as Kim Petras and Joy Oladokun to the latter.[5]

In 2014, Gottwald was involved in a legal dispute with Kesha. The case Kesha v. Dr. Luke was settled out of court in June 2023.

Gottwald owns two publishing companies, Kasz Money Publishing, for his own songs, and Prescription Songs, which employs other songwriters. As of January 2011, he has garnered 21 Top 40 Billboard Hot 100 singles, becoming the producer with the third most such hits since the charts were created.[6] His work has been recognized with various music industry awards. Billboard named him one of the top performing producers of the 2000s. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers awarded him Producer and Songwriter of the Year honors from 2009 to 2011. At the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical, and Perry's Teenage Dream was nominated for Album of the Year.

  1. ^ Winton, Richard (October 14, 2014). "Kesha sues producer, alleges years of sex abuse and forced drugging". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2014.
  2. ^ Powell, Jon (May 29, 2020). "Lil Wayne liberates deluxe version of 'Funeral'". REVOLT. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference nymag was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference CBS35 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Prescription Songs/Amigo Records promotes General Manager Ashlee Gibbs to Director of Operations". March 2, 2023.
  6. ^ Concepcion, Mariel (January 8, 2011). "Dynamite Doc" Billboard.