Famed studio musician and one-time member of Bread Larry Knechtel died Thursday (August 20) in a Yakima, Washington hospital, near where he lived. He was 69. Larry played with Duane Eddy's Rebels and made a nmae for himself as part of Hollywood's Wrecking Crew of studio musicians. Though primarily a pianist (most notably on Simon & Garfunkel's #1 hit "Bridge Over Troubled Water" in 1970), he also played bass ("Mr. Tambourine Man" by the Byrds) and provided the guitar work on Bread's "The Guitar Man (#11-1972)." Born in Bell, California, Larry played with the Los Angeles group Kip Tyler and the Flips until joining Duane Eddy for four years, beginning in 1959. While working as a studio musician, he also played bass for the house band on the TV program, "Shindig" as well as on Elvis Presley's "Comeback" TV special. He backed four different acts at the Monterey Pop Festival. Larry joined Bread in 1971 until the group disbanded two years later, providing guitar, bass, piano and even harmonica on such hits as "Baby I'm A Want You" (#3-1971), "Everything I Own" (#5-1972), "Diary" (#15-1972) and "Sweet Surrender" (#15-1972). He also co-produced Sammy John's album and single "Chevy Van." Larry was inducted into the Musician's Hall of Fame in 2007.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Wrecking Crew Member Larry Knechtel Dead At 69
Famed studio musician and one-time member of Bread Larry Knechtel died Thursday (August 20) in a Yakima, Washington hospital, near where he lived. He was 69. Larry played with Duane Eddy's Rebels and made a nmae for himself as part of Hollywood's Wrecking Crew of studio musicians. Though primarily a pianist (most notably on Simon & Garfunkel's #1 hit "Bridge Over Troubled Water" in 1970), he also played bass ("Mr. Tambourine Man" by the Byrds) and provided the guitar work on Bread's "The Guitar Man (#11-1972)." Born in Bell, California, Larry played with the Los Angeles group Kip Tyler and the Flips until joining Duane Eddy for four years, beginning in 1959. While working as a studio musician, he also played bass for the house band on the TV program, "Shindig" as well as on Elvis Presley's "Comeback" TV special. He backed four different acts at the Monterey Pop Festival. Larry joined Bread in 1971 until the group disbanded two years later, providing guitar, bass, piano and even harmonica on such hits as "Baby I'm A Want You" (#3-1971), "Everything I Own" (#5-1972), "Diary" (#15-1972) and "Sweet Surrender" (#15-1972). He also co-produced Sammy John's album and single "Chevy Van." Larry was inducted into the Musician's Hall of Fame in 2007.
