So far this year we’ve lost a number of musicians from a variety of genres. Original rock and roller/blues musician - Johnny Otis, the World’s Oldest Teenager - Dick Clark, Disco Star - Donna Sumer, Bee Gee Robin Gibb, Beastie Boy Adam Yauch, The Band Drummer Levon Helm, Guitarist Doc Watson and two that most people might not be familiar with but who meant a lot to me bassist Donald “Duck” Dunn, and Skatalites bassist Lloyd Brevett.
Today we’ll look at Duck Dunn.
Growing up and learning bass, I became familiar with the work of all of the famous names in the rock bass world; Paul McCartney, Bill Wyman, Jack Bruce, John Paul Jones, Jack Casady, Phil Lesh, Tony Levin… and on and on.
As I delved further into the history of the bass, and branched into other areas of music, you start to come across other names, names that aren’t familiar to casual listeners. Names like Carol Kaye, James Jamerson, Bob Babbitt, Bob Glaub, and Duck Dunn. Names that most people won't recognize, but whose bass lines have been heard and have influenced musicians for years.
Even if you don’t know the name, you’ve heard Donald “Duck” Dunn. He played on a number of Stax/Volt songs. If you’ve ever seen the movie “The Blues Brothers”, you’ve seen Duck Dunn. He was the bass player for Booker T. and the MGs, played with Sam and Dave, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Albert King, Freddie King, Muddy Waters, Elvis Presley… and many more. Duck Dunn, along with Steve Cropper, Al Jackson, Jr. and Booker T. Jones, (Booker T. and the MGs) were more or less the house band for Stax/Volt, and played on a lot of their hits.
So here's to Donald "Duck" Dunn ...and his Fender Precision strung with flatwounds..
Let’s hear some of his tracks.
Booker T. and the MGs – Green Onions
Booker T. and the MGs – Bootleg
Booker T. and the MGs – Time is Tight
Blues Brothers – Jailhouse Rock
Neil Young with Booker T. and the MGs
Steve Cropper and Duck Dunn – Time is Tight
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