Barry Beckett


Barry Edward Beckett was an American keyboardist, session musician, record producer, and studio founder. He is best known for his work with David Hood, Jimmy Johnson, and Roger Hawkins, his bandmates in the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, which performed with numerous notable artists on their studio albums and helped define the "Muscle Shoals sound".
Among the artists Beckett recorded with were Bob Dylan, Boz Scaggs, Paul Simon, Rod Stewart, Duane Allman, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, Dire Straits, the Proclaimers and Phish. He was also briefly a member of the band Traffic.

Biography

Beckett was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He rose to prominence as a member of the rhythm section at the Sheffield, Alabama-based Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, of which he was one of the founders in 1969. As a founding member of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, he helped define what became known as the Muscle Shoals sound. In addition, the studio produced such chart-making hits as "Torn Between Two Lovers" by Mary MacGregor and the Sanford-Townsend Band's "Smoke from a Distant Fire".
In 1973, Beckett took to the road in the expanded lineup of Traffic; recordings from this tour were released on the band's live album On the Road.
Beckett was co-producing with Jerry Wexler when, in 1979, Bob Dylan called on Wexler to produce the sessions for the album Slow Train Coming. Beckett not only co-produced the album but played piano and organ throughout. On the album liner notes Beckett is billed as co-producer and as "special guest artist".
Beckett moved to Nashville in 1982 to become A & R country music director for Warner Bros. Records and co-produced Williams, Jr.'s records with Jim Ed Norman. Beckett produced records independently after leaving Warner Bros. Records.
He also played on Paul Simon's albums There Goes Rhymin' Simon and Still Crazy After All These Years, which reached number 1 on the Billboard 200 pop chart.
Beckett died from complications of a stroke at his home in Hendersonville, Tennessee, aged 66.

Awards and honors

Collaborations

With Solomon BurkeProud Mary
With Etta JamesTell Mama Seven Year Itch Stickin' to My Guns Love's Been Rough on Me
With Bob SegerBack in '72 Beautiful Loser Night Moves Stranger in Town Against the Wind The Distance The Fire Inside
With Joan BaezHonest Lullaby
With Willie NelsonPhases and Stages
With Feargal SharkeySongs from the Mardi Gras
With William BellWow... Phases of Reality
With Julian LennonValotte
With Cher3614 Jackson Highway
With Vince GillWhen I Call Your Name Pocket Full of Gold When Love Finds You
With Kim CarnesSailin'
With Boz ScaggsBoz Scaggs My Time Some Change
With Mary MacGregorTorn Between Two Lovers
With Mark KnopflerGolden Heart
With John P. HammondSouthern Fried
With Mavis StaplesMavis Staples Only for the Lonely Oh What a Feeling
With Wilson PickettHey Jude Right On Don't Knock My Love
With Paul AnkaFeelings
With John Michael MontgomeryWhat I Do the Best
With Steve CropperNight After Night
With Eddie RabbittLoveline
With Dee Dee BridgewaterDee Dee Bridgewater
With Albert KingLovejoy
With Paul SimonThere Goes Rhymin' Simon Still Crazy After All These Years
With Wendy WaldmanGypsy Symphony
With Wynonna JuddWynonna Tell Me Why
With Levon HelmLevon Helm Levon Helm
With Trace AdkinsDreamin' Out Loud
With Aretha FranklinThis Girl's in Love with You Spirit in the Dark
With Candi StatonCandi His Hands
With DonovanLady of the Stars
With Dolly PartonWhite Limozeen
With John PrineStorm Windows
With Aaron NevilleThe Tattoeed Heart
With Kenny ChesneyAll I Need to Know Me and You
With Joe CockerLuxury You Can Afford
With Ronnie HawkinsRonnie Hawkins
With LuluNew Routes
With Beth Nielsen ChapmanHearing It First
With Dion DiMucciVelvet and Steel
With Ilse DeLangeWorld of Hurt
With Dion DiMucciVelvet and Steel
With Chely WrightWoman in the Moon
With OdettaOdetta Sings
With Laura NyroChristmas and the Beads of Sweat
With Johnny RiversThe Road
With Bob DylanSlow Train Coming Saved
With Peabo BrysonPeabo
With Ricky Van SheltonA Bridge I Didn't Burn
With J. J. CaleReally
With Art GarfunkelBreakaway Watermark
With Rosanne CashKing's Record Shop
With Michael Martin MurpheyTonight We Ride
With José Feliciano Sweet Soul Music
With Cat StevensIzitso
With Leon RussellLeon Russell and the Shelter People
With Rod StewartAtlantic Crossing A Night on the Town
With Glenn FreyThe Allnighter Soul Searchin'
With Linda RonstadtLinda Ronstadt
With Rodney CrowellDiamonds & Dirt Keys to the Highway Life Is Messy
With John P. Hammond