Producer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter Dallas Austin made his name with a string of best-selling records during the early '90s, and continued to maintain his reputation as a reliable hitmaker into the new millennium. Austin learned to play guitar and keyboards as a youngster, and by his teens was playing in bands around Atlanta, Georgia. His first production job was in 1989 when he worked with former Klymaxx singer Joyce "Fenderella" Irby on the top five R&B hit "Mr. DJ." A string of hugely successful collaborations followed, most notably with Boyz II Men (COOLEYHIGHHARMONY) and TLC (OOOOOOOHHH...ON THE TLC TIP and CRAZYSEXYCOOL). Owing to his success, Austin was able to open his own DARP recording studio, and also set up the Rowdy Records and Freeworld labels. He branched out into the rock and pop market during the latter part of the decade, working with Madonna, Lenny Kravitz, Indigo Girls, Paula Abdul, and Santana. Austin’s major successes continued to come on the urban market, however, with Monica, Brandy, Deborah Cox, and Pink all benefiting from his magic touch. He also worked on several soundtracks including MEN CAN'T JUMP, POETIC JUSTICE, and THE NUTTY PROFRESSOR and released recordings under his own name.