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
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 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
“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 Guitarist Ed King, ‘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
Read More Merry Clayton on Singing on ‘Gimme Shelter’ and ‘Tapestry’
The singer on the Stones’ classic: “They played me the song and asked if I could put somethin’ on it…I said, ‘Stop and tell me what all this stuff means.'”
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Waddy Wachtel Talks About Linda, James, and His Career as a Session Ace
Our conversation with the guitarist who has been a “first-call” player for decades, recording and touring with such stars as Ronstadt, Taylor and Carole King
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Sam Cooke, By Those Who Knew Him
“Sam had a big influence on anybody,” said soul singer Bobby Womack. “To me, cancer would be good if Sam gave it out. I’m serious.”
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