Walter Becker of Steely Dan dead. RIP

[Cattledog]

Last edited Sun Sep 3, 2017, 10:07 AM - Edit history (1)

http://www.walterbecker.com

Walter Becker, guitarist and co-founder of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted band Steely Dan, died Sunday at the age of 67.

Becker's official site announced the guitarist's death; no cause of death or other details were provided.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/walter-becker-steely-dan-co-founder-dead-at-67-w500956

[Dr Hobbitstein]

1. Damn. Nt

[NNadir]

2. He made some of the most interesting music in the last half a century.

The wit and precision of Steely Dan music was a great joy.

May he rest in peace.

[Miles Archer]

16. The second album was the one that reeled me in (no pun intended).

Yes, like every other person in America with a radio, I enjoyed "Reelin' In The Years" and "Do It Again."

But the second album, with "Show Biz Kids" and "Boston Rag," was the first one that screamed "genius" to me.

"Boston Rag," especially, struck me as the one that Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young might have pulled off if they only had stopped squabbling, toking, and snorting long enough to record it. Sounds like the best Graham Nash song he never recorded.

R.I.P., Walter.

[Va Lefty]

3. Damn hate to hear this

Safe passage Mr. Becker

[PennyK]

4. No.

Steely Dan, my number one musical love since the 70s. Can't believe I'll never see them again.

[lastlib]

10. Took me a long time to realize just how GOOD those guys really were....

But once I did, they became a HUGE favorite of mine! Walter Becker was a true musical GIANT, IMHO. RIP, Walter!

. . . . . . .

Aja

[modrepub]

5. Any Major Dude Will Tell You

this is a major downer.

[sweetroxie]

6. Such a loss to the world of music

Steely Dan produces/ed some of the most sophisticated pop music around.

[Snarkoleptic]

7. Becker was a musical giant.

He'll be sorely missed.
Home at last-

[Snarkoleptic]

13. If you have an 1hour 40 min to kill, this is top notch..

[Granny M]

8. Oh, no.

Love their music. So sorry. RIP, Walter.

[Kath2]

9. Sad.

I was a waitress in a bar and grill in 1977. At closing time we would lock the doors, clean up, put on Aja and party. 40 years later, hearing Deacon Blues takes me back to those times.

[Botany]

11. They call Alabams the Crimson Tide ......

This one hurts

[Kath2]

14. It really does.

The soundtrack of my youth. I loved their music.

[mdbl]

12. too young.

[Freddie]

15. Saw them in concert recently

Absolutely awesome. Thank you Mr. Becker for your gift of wonderful music, the soundtrack to us boomers' lives.

[MontanaMama]

17. Crap. This is a huge musical loss.

Their sound is like no other. I didn't really get how great Steely Dan was until I was in my 30's when I realized they were genius. I have a childhood friend who named her daughter Aja.

[Cracklin Charlie]

18. Damn. I just heard "Deacon Blues".

Gentle crossing, Mr. Becker.

[nikatnyte]

19. One of Steely Dan's (and Becker's) finest moments

Great production, great performance, great song.

[Ligyron]

20. Sad.

Things like this remind me I'm getting old.

[Le Gaucher]

21. Iam in my 40's .. I try , but fail, to explain to the younger crowd

That none of their pop bands can hold a candle to a band like Steely Dan

'Bridge' Channel on SiriusXM is my favorite as it plays a lot of Steely Dan.

RIP Walt

[caballojm]

22. Well this just sucks.

Steely Dan has been my favorite since I was a kid. Becker was an amazing guitarist and songwriter. RIP Mr. Becker.

[Scurrilous]

23. RIP

[Galileo126]

24. Take it slow now, Mr. Becker....

R.I.P., sir.

[DinahMoeHum]

25. Steely Dan was the soundtrack to my college years in the 1970s.

A few years later on the progressive-rock radio station (R.I.P.) WLIR-FM (New York), the DJs did a multi-part interview with Steely Dan’s producer, Gary Katz; one of the very few interviews he's ever consented to. And I recorded it on cassette.

Think I’ll dig up the player and the tape from the basement and play it tonight, as “sitting shiva” for Walter Becker.

[Joeyboots]

26. May he rest in peace

Steely Dan is a little before my time, being 37, but my mother turned me on to them when I was a teen in the 90's and I was always impressed by their attention to detail and perfectionism when it came to their recordings. These guys, Walter especially, were true artists, masters of their craft. I salute you Mr. Becker, know that you will never be forgotten. RIP

[Cattledog]

27. The best acceptance speech ever.

[underpants]

28. Very funny and original

My brother listened to them a lot. Truly amazing commitment to detail.

[underpants]

29. BTW "stab it with their steely knifes" line in Hotel California is a nod to Becker and Fagen

Steely Dan had a line about "turn up the Eagles so the neighbors won't hear" in a song. Fagen and his girlfriend used to crank up the Eagles when they fought. Henley and Frey returned the favor in Hotel California.

[ATL Ebony]

30. R.I.P. Mr Becker

My favorite from Steely Dan:

[GregW]

31. Even Cathy Berberian knows, there's one roulade she can't sing...

Still one of my favorite bands, "Your Gold Teeth" has been my ringtone for years.

RIP Walter