R.I.P. Donald "Duck" Dunn. Another seminal musician passes away. Another major musical influence in my life gone but not forgotten.
NEW YORK — Donald "Duck" Dunn, the bassist who helped create the gritty Memphis soul sound at Stax Records in the 1960s as part of the legendary group Booker T. and the MGs and contributed to such classics as "In the Midnight Hour," "Hold On, I'm Coming" and "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay," died Sunday at 70.
Dunn, whose legacy as one of the most respected session musicians in the business also included work with John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd's Blues Brothers as well as with Levon Helm, Eric Clapton, Neil Young and Bob Dylan, died while on tour in Tokyo.
News of his death was posted on the Facebook site of his friend and fellow musician Steve Cropper, who was on the same tour. Cropper said Dunn died in his sleep.
they're putting together a hellofa band in Heaven.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, they're dropping like flies. And I'm guessing "Duck" Dunn was better known from his "Blues Brothers" appearance than from all of his recordings put together.
ReplyDeleteR.I.P.
When it comes to Booker T and the M.G.s I first think of 'Time is Tight', it is right there next to 'Green Onions'.
ReplyDelete70 ain't no spring chicken any more...at least he avoided the pitfalls of so many of his early peers. Bummer he's gone to rest but he made a notch in the Coup stick of the world.
ReplyDeleteIt's weird to see so many of our favorite musicians turn geriatric on us, to see so many of them die. Especially when we aren't getting any older, ya know? (Shut up! Just humor me.)
ReplyDeleteRight, Susan! The realization that I am just a little younger is not very comforting. Maybe I'll just slowly fade away. At least Duck and the others have left us a lot of great tunes.
ReplyDeletewhat a great artist this fella was.
ReplyDeletenice tribute and a nice memory.