When it comes to sidemen, David Lindley was always way out in front. A multi-instrumentalist who could play anything with strings from an Apache Fiddle to a Zither, Lindley was the accompanist of choice for the top tier artists of LA in the 70s and beyond.
David Crosby was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He first found fame as a member of The Byrds, and later as part of the supergroup Crosby, Stills & Nash, who helped popularize the California sound of the 1970s. After the release of their debut album, CSN won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1969.
If electric guitars could talk, they’d probably have a lot to say about Jeff Beck. Of course, in Beck’s hands, guitars did talk. And cry. And Laugh. And, most of all, they sang. Over a career that spanned seven decades, Beck was both the consummate master and the ultimate student of his instrument, chasing new sounds and zagging where other players zigged.
Bobby Eli was an American musician, arranger, composer and record producer from Philadelphia, PA. He was a founding member and lead guitarist of the Philadelphia studio band MFSB (Mothers, Fathers, Sisters, Brothers).
George Otis Winston III was an American pianist who was an established contemporary instrumental music performer. Best known for his solo piano recordings, Winston released his first album in 1972, and came to prominence with his 1980 album Autumn, which was followed in 1982 by Winter Into Spring and December. All three became platinum-selling albums, with December becoming a triple-platinum album. A total of 16 solo albums were released, accumulating over 15 million records sold, with the 1994 album Forest earning Winston a Grammy Award for Best New Age Album. Winston also played the guitar and harmonica. George Winston passed away in June 2023.
Barrett Strong, Jr. was an American singer and songwriter. Together with producer Norman Whitfield, they penned such songs as “I Heard It Through The Grapevine,” War,”, “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me),” and “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone.” He is also known for his recording of “Money (That’s What I Want),” which was the first hit single for the Motown record label. In 2004, Strong was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Barrett Strong passed away in January 2023.
Floyd Chester Sneed was a Canadian drummer, best known for his work with the band Three Dog Night. Sneed grew up in a musical family and became interested in drums at an early age.
Wayne Shorter was an American jazz saxophonist, composer and bandleader. He came to mainstream prominence in 1959 upon joining Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, for whom he eventually became the primary composer. In 1964 he joined forces with Miles Davis, before then co-founding the jazz fusion band Weather Report in 1970. He recorded more than 20 albums as a bandleader. Many Wayne Shorter compositions have become jazz standards, and his music has earned worldwide recognition and critical praise. Shorter won 12 Grammy Awards before he left us in 2023.