Robert George "Joe" Meek (April 5, 1929 - February 3, 1967), was an English record producer and songwriter from Gloucestershire, England. He pioneered experimental pop music and assisted the development of recording practices like sampling, overdubbing and reverb. Meek wrote and produced the Tornados instrumental "Telstar" in 1962, which became the first record by a British group to reach number #1 in the US Hot 100. On February 3, 1967, Meek killed his landlady 'Violet Shenton' and then shot himself using a shotgun owned by musician Heinz Burt.