[42][5], Becker was also married to Delia Cioffi and Juanna Fatouros. In 1984 Becker married Elinor Roberta Meadows, a yoga teacher, and the couple had two children,[40] including adopted daughter Sayan. Walter Becker See latest videos, charts and news Becker died on Sunday, at around the same hour that I politely left the party I'd soured. Steely Dan, the American jazz-rock band formed by the multi-instrumentalists and songwriters Donald Fagen and Walter Becker in 1972, marked the high point of the music industrys most profligate period. Walter Becker, Steely Dan Co-Founder, Dead at 67 - Rolling Stone, Steely Dans Donald Fagen Tours With Young Nightflyers - WSJ. If youve ever known anyone thats chronically depressed like that, its hard to appreciate whats going on: youre looking straight at it and you still dont get it, because youve never gone through that., A month after Stanleys death, Becker was seriously injured when a taxi drove into him in Central Park. He was diagnosed with the cancer during a routine medical check-up, and died less than four months after it was detected. Steely Dan's Walter Becker on stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2015. In a long homage published in Rolling Stone,. And the hits kept coming, with albums Countdown to Ecstasy in 1973, and Pretzel Logic in 1974 with Steely Dan's biggest song - Rikki Don't Lose That Number. Walter Becker was born on February 20, 1950 in Queens, New York City, New York, USA. Its important to me, as it was to Walter, that you all know he never intended to keep anyone in the dark about his condition. All Rights Reserved. Becker was one of the most accomplished guitar and bass players of his generation, co-writing songs on Aja such as Peg, Josie and Deacon Blues, the last of which inspired the title of the Scottish band Deacon Blue in the following decade. He was best known as the co-founder, guitarist, bassist, and co-songwriter of the jazz rock band Steely Dan. Following a brief battle with esophageal cancer, he died on September 3, 2017. Two months after Steely Dan guitarist and co-founderWalter Beckers death at 67, on Wednesday (Nov. 15) his widowDelia Beckerreleased an emotionalstatement discussingher late husbands health struggles and her own difficulty in dealing with his passing. Becker re-teamed with Fagen for the album Two Against Nature, released in 2000, which took the Grammy award for Album of the Year. That came from a sex toy mentioned in the novel Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs. All Rights Reserved. He was previously married to Juanna Fatouros, Delia Cioffi and Elinor Roberta Meadows. Becker wrote the song "Little Kawai" for his son, and it became the final song on the album 11 Tracks of Whack . Becker wrote the song Little Kawai for his son, and it became the final song on the album 11 Tracks of Whack. Walter Carl Becker (February 20, 1950 September 3, 2017) was an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. Becker wrote the song "Little Kawai" for his son, and it became the final song on the album 11 Tracks of Whack. They divorced in 1997. See the best pics of Mia, Ava and Cruz, Dad's doppelganger! Writing his obituary, the Associated Press reported that Steely Dan's Walter Becker "had the gift of relative anonymity in a field where celebrity can do incalculable damage." Following the groups dissolution, Becker moved to Hawaii and reduced his musical activity, working primarily as a record producer. All rights reserved. In 2003, they released the album Everything Must Go with Becker singing lead vocal on Slang of Ages. It seemed to have come out of nowhere and had spread with terrifying speed. We play rock & roll, but we swing when we play. Walter Becker, co-founder of Steely Dan, passed away this week at 67. . "Donald wanted me to play guitar because he felt that we'd end up with some-thing weirder and more interesting if I did it," Becker told The L. A. A year later, Fagen co-produced Beckers debut album 11 Tracks of Whack. Once I met (session musician) Chuck Rainey, he explained, I felt there really was no need for me to be bringing my bass guitar to the studio anymore. The results justified this approach, at least on paper. Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker died on September 3rd due to complications from treatment for advanced stages of esophageal cancer, his widow revealed on Thursday. He co-wrote "I'm All Right" from the album Half the Perfect World (2006) by Madeleine Peyroux, and "You Can't Do Me" and the title track from her album Bare Bones (2009). In an interview many years later, Fagen said, "I hear this guy practicing, and it sounded very professional and contemporary. We were quantum criminals, he joked of the accident, in which his right leg was fractured in several places. How do the British royal family make their money? Walter Becker 's widow, Delia Becker, has released a personal statement regarding the Steely Dan co-founder's death in September. For years . [23] Becker produced Rickie Lee Jones's album Flying Cowboys and played bass on the main title track co-written by Pascal Nabet Meyer,[24] which was certified gold by the RIAA in 1997. Where are the cast of Here Comes The Habibs! Becker and Fagen reunited in 1986 to collaborate on Zazu, the debut album by Rosie Vela. The heartfelt note thanks his fans for their condolences and tributes,. We investigate, Where to watch the coronation of King Charles III in Australia, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark visiting Australia, Aussie celebrities who are strictly no alcohol: From Chrissy Swan to Keith Urban, Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky's best family moments are much more 'normal' than anyone expected, From The Bachelor to babies: Matty J and Laura Byrne's love story is anything but ordinary, Grace Tame confessed she didnt know what love was before meeting fianc Max Heerey. [11], Pretzel Logic (1974) was the first Steely Dan album to feature Becker on guitar. [39] The term was later adapted as Gear Acquisition Syndrome in online forums and music magazines. He just ran out of time much sooner than any of us thought possible. She thanked fans for the tsunami of tributes and remembrances that have poured out since his death. You can also watch Steely Dan perform Book of Liars in memory of Becker here, and listen to what was probably the greatest Steely Dan show ever here. In August,FagentoldBillboardthat his bandmate was recovering from a procedure, but didnt elaborate further. Soon after, he was hit by a cab in Manhattan while crossing the street and was forced to walk with crutches while recovering. They divorced in 1997. Michael McDonald, later (and more famously) of The Doobie Brothers, was working with Steely Dan in the mid-1970s, as keyboardist and vocalist. [30] In 2003, they released the album Everything Must Go with Becker singing lead vocal on "Slang of Ages". He was best known as the co-founder, guitarist, bassist, and co-songwriter of the jazz rock band Steely Dan. It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Walter J. Becker of Iron Ridge, Wisconsin, who passed away on February 26, 2023, at the age of 65, leaving to mourn family and friends. Their first LP,Can't Buy a Thrill, was released in 1972 featuring hitsReelin in the Years, Dirty Work and Do It Again. On September 3, 2017, Walter Becker died of non-communicable disease. [44] Despite undergoing vigorous treatment, the cancer rapidly worsened to the point that he was completely absent from all of Steely Dan's concerts in the months that followed. Like a lot of kids from fractured families, he had the knack of creative mimicry, reading peoples hidden psychology and transforming what he saw into bubbly, incisive art.. Sign-up to the latest news from Now To Love, delivered straight to your inbox. [28] A year later, Fagen co-produced Becker's debut album 11 Tracks of Whack.[29]. The best music, movies, TV, books, comedy and more. "They were harsh task masters. Suri Cruise looks just like Tom Cruise. In 1985, he briefly became a member of the English band China Crisis, producing and playing synthesizer on their album Flaunt the Imperfection. Fagan also previously demonstrated the dedication he has to Steely Dan fans in the touching statement he wrote about his departed bandmate, saying, I intend to keep the music we created together alive as long as I can with the Steely Dan band. He made good on that promise, and recently finished up a tour in October. We want to hear it. Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker's widow Delia reveals the circumstances surrounding Becker's death in a new letter to the band's fans. Even his Number 1 Fan me would not have predicted anything close to the depth and breadth of public expressions from those whose lives were enriched by Walter by his talent, his kindness, and his skill at inspiring some wicked fun. Scroll Down and find everything about him. [3] He was raised in Queens and Scarsdale, New York[4] by his father and his grandmother. ), You've Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat, Listen to 13 Essential Walter Becker Songs, "Steely Dan: Return of the Dark Brothers", "Back to Annandale: The Origins of Steely Dan", "Walter Becker, Steely Dan Guitarist, Dies at 67", "Walter Becker, Steely Dan Co-Founder, Dead at 67", "Walter Becker, Guitarist, Songwriter and Co-Founder of Steely Dan, Dies at 67", "When Jimmy Page Debuted With the Yardbirds and Steely Dan Broke Up", "The 1993 interview when Walter Becker opened up about Steely Dan's subversive intentions", "Commencement 2001 Berklee College of Music", "Steely Dan Sunday, "Slang of Ages" (2003)", "Long Island Music Hall of Fame Preserving & Celebrating the Long Island musical heritage", "walter becker circus money official site", "Can Buy a Thrill: The luthier-built guitars of Walter Becker", "Steely Dan's Walter Becker Estate Auction Fetches $3.3M on Hundreds of Guitars, Amps & More", "Steely Dan's Walter Becker was a gearhead's gearhead. He was 67 years old. The song broadcast Steely Dan's love of jazz, as it pulled its riff from pianist Horace Silver's light-stepping, Brazilian-tinged staple "Song for My Father." He was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2008. Health issues began to interfere with the music some report he was suffering from Hepatitis C. The final illness arose suddenly. In 2005, Becker co-produced and played bass guitar on the album All One by Krishna Das and played guitar on the album Tough on Crime by Rebecca Pidgeon. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, A daily briefing on what matters in the music industry. Becker's guitar and amp collection was the largest ever sold by Julien's, whose owner said "what made [the] collection unique" was that Becker "literally played all of them."[35][37][38]. I asked to go", "Really sad to hear Walter Becker has passed Steely Dan music touched me deep. He has a pure loving kind heart personality. And despite countless lineup changes over the years,Becker and Fagen remained the core of Steely Dan, turning out jazz funk meets rock n roll hits. [9] At the time, Chase called the group "a bad jazz band. Seemingly needing a break from the entertainment world, Becker stopped using drugs and became an avocado farmer and cattle rancher, although he still had a small recording studio overlooking the ocean. The band later recorded another studio album, Everything Must Go, with Becker making his Steely Dan lead vocal debut on the track Slang of Ages in 2003. [16], Despite the success of Aja in 1977, Becker suffered from setbacks during this period, including an addiction to narcotics. The album won four Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. "Walter Becker was not only an icon in the world of music but he had one of the largest, most diverse collections of. She continues, Its important to me, as it was to Walter, that you all know he never intended to keep anyone in the dark about his condition. Farmer Wants A Wife 2023: Who has been elimated so far. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) By Chris Willman . At the time of his death, no cause or other details were announced, but a statement released in November by Beckers widow, Delia Becker, detailed his struggle with the disease. Its important to me, as it was to Walter, that you all know he never intended to keep anyone in the dark about his condition, she writes. I'm not interested in a rock/jazz fusion. Walter Beckers Widow Details Steely Dan Co-Founders Swift Illness, Death, Suga, Drake, And All the Songs You Need to Know This Week, BTS Suga (as Agust D) Reveals New Album D-Day Out This Month, See BTS Jung Kook Debut New Single Dreamers at FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony, Toosii Brings Roses and Your 'Favorite Song' to Tonight Show, Justin Bieber Shares Heartfelt Message to Frank Ocean After Coachella Set, Bad Bunny Sets the Record Straight on Harry Styles Coachella Tweet, J-Hope Shares Buzzcut, Special Message for Fans Ahead of MilitaryEnlistment, Ankle Injury Messed Up Frank Ocean's Coachella Set, Source Claims, Bill Hader Didn't Know Carol Burnett Was His Cousin Until She Emailed Him. As Walter Beckers wife of many years, I wanted to share with his fans some information regarding his death that has not previously been reported. "A lot of times, we'd get somebody to come in and try something and we'd listen to it, and it would be too ordinary or (the guitarist) wouldn't understand it in any unusual tonal way. Steely Dan's music is everywhere. [from a 1974 interview with Rolling Stone magazine], New and Upcoming Science Fiction and Fantasy, (September 29, 1975 - April 12, 1978) (divorced), View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. Inkeeping with his wishes, he was cremated without ceremony or memorial in New York City. Becker and Fagen were essentially the only constants of Steely Dan, which by the mid-'70s had ceased touring and increasingly relied upon a revolving cast of ace musicians. A stint with the pop group Jay and the Americans, with whom Becker performed under the stage name Gus Mahler, eventually led to a position as in-house songwriters at the ABC label in Los Angeles. ", "Steely Dan changed the way I understand music forever; I started writing songs under the name "the Mountain Goats" the same month 1/2", "Read Rickie Lee Jones' Poignant Tribute to Steely Dan's Walter Becker", "Steely Dan's Donald Fagen on Walter Becker: 'Hysterically Funny, a Great Songwriter', Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz with Steely Dan, Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms, Some People Think It's Fun to Entertain, Working with Fire and Steel Possible Pop Songs Volume Two, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Walter_Becker&oldid=1144948744, Short description is different from Wikidata, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Companion media website - www.walterbeckermedia.com, This page was last edited on 16 March 2023, at 12:59. I am just beginning to emerge from its heartbreaking impact.. 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