Ry Cooder's brother-in-law, Titelman started out as a session guitarist with Phil Spector. He is a successful songwriter and also works as a producer.

He played guitar on Captain Beefheart's Clear Spot and Safe As Milk albums and has also worked with Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, George Harrison, the Bee Gees, Meatloaf, Paul Simon, Brian Wilson, the Allman Brothers Band, James Taylor, Rickie Lee Jones, Chaka Khan, Randy Newman and others.