Tag Archives: session musician

David Sanborn

On May 12, 2024, David William Sanborn died aged 78. He was musician (alto saxophone, piano), one of the most highly regarded session musicians. He recorded and performed with some of the best-known artist of the modern music including Albert King, Little Milton, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Stevie Wonder, James Taylor, Al Jarreau, James Brown, Bryan Ferry, Michael Stanley, Eric Clapton, Bobby Charles, Cat Stevens, Roger Daltrey, Paul Simon, Jaco Pastorius, the Brecker Brothers, Michael Franks, Kenny Loggins, Casiopea, Players Association, David Bowie, Todd Rundgren, Bruce Springsteen, Little Feat, Tommy Bolin, Bob James, Pure Prairie League, Kenny G, Loudon Wainwright III, George Benson, Joe Beck, Donny Hathaway, Elton John, Gil Evans, Carly Simon, Guru, Linda Ronstadt, Billy Joel, Kenny Garrett, Roger Waters, Steely Dan, Ween, the Eagles, Grateful Dead, Nena, Hikaru Utada, The Rolling Stones, Ian Hunter, and Toto. As leader, Sanborn released 25 albums.

Brian Locking

On October 8, 2020, Brian Locking died aged 81. He was musician (bass guitar double bass, piano, harmonica, clarinet) and songwriter, worked as session musician with Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Joe Brown, Conway Twitty, Vince Taylor & His Playboys,  and Brenda Lee, but was best known as bass player of The Wildcast and The Shadows.

Rick Rosas

On November 6, 2014, Rick Rosas aka “Rick the Bass Player” died aged 65. He was musician (bass), one of the most south after studio session musicians in California. He performed and recorded with Neil Young, Ron Wood, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Rivers, Etta James, Buffalo Springfield, Joe Walsh, and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young.

Robert Kreinar

On July 16, 2012, Robert Kreinar aka Bob Babbitt died aged 74. He was musician (bass), member of the “Motown Records” studio band The Funk Brothers, MFSB for “Philadelphia International Records”, and founding member of Scorpion. As a session musician Babbitt recorded for Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow, Gloria Gaynor, Robert Palmer, Alice Cooper, Gladys Knight & the Pips, The Spinners, Stevie Wonder, Edwin Starr, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Freda Payne, The Temptations, and The Main Ingredient. “Bass Player” magazine ranked Babbitt at number 59 on its list of the “100 Greatest Bass Players of All Time”.

Jerry Carrigan

On June 22, 2019, Jerry Kirby Carrigan died aged 75. He was musician (drums) and record producer. He first achieved widespread recognition as a member of the original Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and later as a session musician in Nashville, regarded as one of the creators of the Nashville sound known as “Countrypolitan”. He has recorded with Elvis Presley, Joan Baez, Johnny Cash, Charley Pride, Paul Anka, John Denver, Jerry Lee Lewis, Waylon Jennings, Bobby Bare, Ray Stevens, Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, Levon Helm, Dolly Parton, Leon Russell, Ronnie Hawkins, George Jones, Henry Mancini, Al Hirt, Johnny Mathis, and the Boston Pops Orchestra. In 2009 Carrigan was inducted into the “Nashville Cats”, by the “Country Music Hall of Fame”; in 2010 he was inducted into the “Alabama Music Hall of Fame”, and in 2019 Carrigan was inducted into the “Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum”.

Andrew Love

On April 12, 2012, Andrew Love died aged 70. He was musician (saxophone), best known for being a member of The Memphis Horns. He was session musician at “Stax Records”, and together with trumpet player Wayne Jackson, he created the signature of Stax horn sound. Love has recorded and toured with many famous artists such as Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Neil Diamond, Elvis Presley, Dusty Springfield, The Doobie Brothers, Jimmy Buffett and Robert Cray.

Sneaky Pete Kleinow

On January 6, 2007, Peter E. “Sneaky Pete” Kleinow died aged 72. He was musician (pedal steel guitar), songwriter and a motion picture special effects artist, best known as a member of the Flying Burrito Brothers. He worked as a session musician for  Joni Mitchell, The Rolling Stones, Ringo Starr, Stevie Wonder, Spencer Davis, Linda Ronstadt, Joan Baez, Jackson Browne, The Byrds, Joe Cocker, Rita Coolidge, Eagles, The Everly Brothers, George Harrison and The Steve Miller Band.

Warren Zevon

On September 7, 2003, Warren William Zevon died aged 56. He was singer-songwriter and musician, had worked as a session musician, was the piano player and band leader for the Everly Brothers, released fifteen albums, and had collaborated with the likes of Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham,  Waddy Wachtel, Mick Fleetwood, John McVie, Carl Wilson, Linda Ronstadt, and Bonnie Raitt

Donald Duck Dunn

On May 13, 2012, Donald “Duck” Dunn died aged 70. He was musician (bass guitar), session musician, record producer, and songwriter, best known  for his 1960’s recordings with Booker T. & the M.G.’s and as a session bassist for “Stax Records”.  He has performed and recorded with big number of famous musicians including Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, William Bell, Eddie Floyd, Johnnie Taylor, Albert King, Elvis Presley, Muddy Waters, Freddie King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty and The Blues Brothers Band. In 1992, Dunn was inducted in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” as a member of Booker T. & the M.G.’s. “Bass Player” magazine ranked him at number  40 on its list of “The 100 Greatest Bass Players of All Time”.

Hugh McCracken

On March 28, 2013, Hugh C. McCracken died aged 70. He was musician (guitar, harmonica), arranger and producer, best known as session musician. McCracken  recorded with Graham Parker, Yoko Ono, Eric Carmen, Loudon Wainwright III, Lou Donaldson, Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, The Four Seasons, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Hank Crawford, Jerry Jemmott, Dr. John, Gary Wright, Donald Fagen, Jimmy Rushing, Billy Joel, Roland Kirk, Roberta Flack, B. B. King, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, The Monkees, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Idris Muhammad, James Taylor, Phoebe Snow, Bob Dylan, Linda McCartney, Ron Carter, Rusty Bryant, Marlena Shaw, Deodato, Carly Simon and Andy Gibb. From 1969-1972, McCracken was member of Mike Mainieri’s White Elephant Orchestra.