THR Names Music's 35 Top Hitmakers

This story first appeared in the Feb. 15 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.

When he was still newly hired at Interscope some five years ago, Mexican producer Fernando Garibay, who won't divulge his age, was given the ultimate test: make Lady Gaga’s songs sound like a million bucks. With Born This Way, Garibay delivered as the album sold more than two million copies and spawned massive hits like the title track, “Edge of Glory” and “You and I.” Amazingly, he recorded most of it on the road and in less than ideal spaces, like backstage or on the tour bus. As it turned out, a jack-of-all-trades was just the ticket. “Whether it was writing or producing a song with her or making sure the vocals are right, whatever she needed,” he says. It was like, ‘You want me to be responsible for the biggest artist on the planet? Cool.’”

Click here to read THR's complete Pop's Top 35 Hitmakers list.