Dallas Austin (born December 29, 1970) is an American songwriter, record producer, and musician, based in Atlanta, Georgia. Some of his most notable clients include Michael Jackson ,TLC, Boyz II Men, Pink, Monica, Madonna, Gwen Stefani, and Anastacia.
As a producer and songwriter, Austin was first noticed and signed to Diva One Music by Joyce Irby (’80s all-girl band Klymaxx) and has crafted hits for LaFace and TLC (with which he won two Grammys for co-producing CrazySexyCool and FanMail), including the hit singles “Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg”, “What about Your Friends”, “Creep”, “Silly Ho” and “Unpretty”. As a teenager, Irby took Austin to Sylvia Rhone, Motown head Jheryl Busby, L.A. Reid, and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, asking them to give him a shot as a producer.
Other credits of Austin’s include the number-two single “Hit ‘em Up Style (Oops!)” recorded by Blu Cantrell, “Don’t Let Me Get Me” and “Just like a Pill” by Pink, and the hit “Secret” by Madonna. In more recent times, Austin’s work has returned him to the charts, writing and producing the successful “Trick Me” for Kelis as well as “Left Outside Alone” and “Sick and Tired” for Anastacia.
