Itaal Shur, born on October 22, 1966, in Los Angeles, California, is an accomplished American composer, producer, and musician. Raised in a creatively rich environment by his composer father and choreographer mother, Shur developed a passion for music early on, learning classical and blues piano. He attended The School for Creative and Performing Arts and Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati, later studying jazz and composition at the College Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati.

In the early 1990s, Shur moved to New York City, where he became involved in the avant-garde jazz scene and co-founded the acid jazz group Groove Collective. He gained recognition for co-writing "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)" for Maxwell's debut album. Shur's career skyrocketed with the co-writing of "Smooth" with Rob Thomas for Santana's album Supernatural, earning him a Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1999. The song became a massive hit, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100.

Shur has released solo albums under the alias Big Muff and his own name, exploring genres like funk, techno, and hip-hop. He has also produced for artists such as Kronos Quartet and Lucy Woodward. Beyond his commercial success, Shur continues to express his artistic vision through projects like his album Beyond Tomorrow, influenced by his connection to Brazilian music and culture.