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
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 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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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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