13 May 12
Legendary bass player Donald “Duck” Dunn has passed away at age 70 in Tokyo, Japan. He was in Tokyo for a series of performances at The Blue Note. Born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1941, he joined The Mar-Keys before sigining on with Booker T & The MGs in 1963. The band’s instrumental hits include “Green Onions” and “Time Is Tight” but their lasting legacy is as architects of the Stax / Volt sound. At Stax Records, Duck laid down inumerable grooves behind artists like Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Rufus Thomas and Albert King performing on more than 600 recordings. From 1983 to 1985, he toured and recorded with Eric Clapton. He also performed at Eric’s 2004 Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas, Texas. Duck worked extensively with Neil Young and ome of the other artists he worked with include Levon Helm, Muddy Waters, Elvis Presley, Rod Stewart, Tom Petty, and Stevie Nicks.