Producer and keyboard player Barry Beckett died June 10 after being diagnosed with cancer and suffering strokes. He was 66.
Beckett died at his Hendersonville, Tenn., home. His family announced the news Friday.
Beckett was one of the founders of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, a group of studio musicians based in Muscle Shoals, Ala. He also helped found the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in 1969, according to ContactMusic.com. The group, also called the Swampers, was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame last year.
As a keyboardist with the group, Beckett played on albums by artists including Paul Simon, Bob Seger, Willie Nelson and the Staple Singers.
Beckett also worked as a producer, recording Bob Dylan’s 1973 album Dylan, 1979’s Slow Train Coming and 1980’s Saved, as well as Dire Straits’ 1979 album Communique.
He also worked with artists including Etta James, Mary MacGregor, Tammy Wynette, Elton John, Sting, Neal McCoy and Alabama.
While producing Kenny Chesney’s first two albums, 1994’s In My Wildest Dreams and 1995’s All I Need To Know, the country star and producer formed a special bond.
Here’s what Chesney told ContactMusic.com:
“He taught me, inspired me, made me reach for more. He was one of the first to ever believe in a kid from Knoxville, Tennessee, who used to sit out in the backyard in the middle of the night and stare at an open sky, knowing that there was something more. I loved him.
“I will take Barry everywhere! I always have and I always will. He taught me to put a smile in everything. That's important in life and especially to those of us who have music in our lives, who are consumed by it. My life is consumed by it and Barry Beckett is to blame and I am forever grateful!"
Click here for the Reuters article.
Click here for the ContactMusic.com article.