Key Players

Behind the creation of great music that lives forever are musicians whose contributions can make a critical difference in recordings and live performances. We feature those players and how their talents bring something special to the mix

Certified Pre-Owned: Unreleased Traveling Wilburys Album

A viable—make that wonderful—Wilburys album is still out there, lurking.

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Remembering David Lindley, Multi-Instrumentalist With Jackson Browne’s Band

He was the featured accompanist for Browne’s band throughout the ’70s and recorded with Linda Ronstadt, Graham Nash and David Crosby, among many others

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Meet Session Superstar Nicky Hopkins

Do you know the music he made with a long Who’s Who list of classic rock superstars? Now get to know the session keyboard star

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The Tragedy of Drummer & Murderer Jim Gordon: 10 Questions for Biographer Joel Selvin

Our interview with the noted music author about his 2024 book, Drums & Demons: The Tragic Journey of Jim Gordon

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The Same Musician Who Orchestrated ELO Gave Us ‘Hooked on Classics’

Jeff Lynne opted to live up to the band’s name when he hired Clark as string arranger and utilized a full orchestra in the group’s recordings

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That Haunting Female Vocal On ‘Gimme Shelter’

When you hear “Rape, murder, it’s just a shot away” on this Rolling Stones hit, does it give you chills? It’s Merry Clayton, who was just 20-years-old at the time

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Remembering Prolific Keyboardist Paul Harris, Who Died in October

“Paul Harris was a lovely, lovely guy. Immensely talented and creative; he was a really sweet person,” tweeted Stephen Stills.

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The Blended Shane MacGowan: On the Death and Life of a Genius

The music of MacGowan and the Pogues is some of the most urgent you’ll ever experience. That immediacy is stunning.

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Loving ‘Cheers’ to My Late Mate, Ian McLagan

A friend praises Small Faces/Faces keyboard player for being the best rock star mate a fan might ever want and a friendly, unpretentious hail-fellow-well-met to any and all of his fans.

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Remembering Skynyrd’s Ed King: Guitarist, ‘Alabama’ Co-Writer

He co-wrote and played the signature guitar opening on the classic track. Before that he co-wrote a 1967 psychedelic favorite

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