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Walter Becker
Becker performing in 2013
Background information
Birth name	Walter Carl Becker
Born	(1950-02-20)February 20, 1950 Queens, New York, U.S.
Died	September 3, 2017(2017-09-03) (aged 67) Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Genres	Jazz rock
Occupations	Musician songwriter record producer
Instruments	Guitar bass guitar vocals
Years active	1969–2017
Labels	ABC MCA Giant Reprise Warner Bros.
Formerly of	Steely Dan China Crisis
Website	walterbecker.com

Walter Carl Becker (February 20, 1950 – September 3, 2017) was an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He was the co-founder, guitarist, bassist, and co-songwriter of the jazz rock band Steely Dan.

Becker met future songwriting partner Donald Fagen while they were students at Bard College. After a brief period of activity in New York City, the two moved to Los Angeles in 1971 and formed the nucleus of Steely Dan, which enjoyed a critically and commercially successful ten-year career. Following the group's dissolution, Becker moved to Hawaii and reduced his musical activity, working primarily as a record producer. In 1985, he briefly became a member of the English band China Crisis, producing and playing synthesizer on their album Flaunt the Imperfection.

Becker and Fagen reformed Steely Dan in 1993 and remained active, recording Two Against Nature (2000), which won four Grammy Awards. Becker released two solo albums, 11 Tracks of Whack (1994) and Circus Money (2008). Following a brief battle with esophageal cancer, he died on September 3, 2017.

Early life and career (1950–1971)

Becker was born in Queens, New York City. After Becker's parents separated when he was a boy, his British mother returned to England. Becker was made to believe by his father and grandmother that his mother was deceased, but at some point between his childhood and late adolescence, he discovered that she was living, and he maintained a rocky relationship with her from then on. He was raised in Queens and Scarsdale, New York by his father and his grandmother. His father, Carl Becker, sold paper-cutting machinery in Manhattan where Walter graduated from Stuyvesant High School After starting out on saxophone, he switched to guitar and received instruction in blues technique from neighbor Randy California, who later formed the band Spirit.

Donald Fagen overheard Becker playing guitar at a campus café when they were both students at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. In an interview many years later, Fagen said, "I hear this guy practicing, and it sounded very professional and contemporary. It sounded like, you know, like a black person, really." They formed the band Leather Canary, which included fellow student Chevy Chase on drums. At the time, Chase called the group "a bad jazz band."

Becker left the school in 1969 before completing his degree and moved with Fagen to Brooklyn, where the two began to build a career as a songwriting duo. They were members of the touring band for Jay and the Americans but used pseudonyms. They also composed music for the soundtrack to You've Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat, a film starring Richard Pryor that was released in 1971.

With Steely Dan (1971–1981)

In 1971, Becker and Fagen moved to Los Angeles and were hired by Gary Katz as staff songwriters at ABC Records, later forming Steely Dan with guitarists Denny Dias and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, drummer Jim Hodder, and vocalist David Palmer. Fagen played keyboards and sang, while Becker played bass guitar. Steely Dan spent the next three years touring and recording before swearing off touring in 1974, confining themselves to the studio with personnel that changed for every album. In addition to co-writing all of the band's material, Becker played guitar and bass guitar and sang background vocals.

Pretzel Logic (1974) was the first Steely Dan album to feature Becker on guitar. "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".

Despite the success of Aja in 1977, Becker suffered from setbacks during this period, including an addiction to narcotics. After the duo returned to New York in 1978, Becker's girlfriend Karen Roberta Stanley, who was an employee of ABC Dunhill Records and personal manager for the band, died of a drug overdose in his apartment on January 30, 1980, resulting in a wrongful death lawsuit against him. Soon after, he was hit by a cab in Manhattan while crossing the street and was forced to walk with crutches while recovering. His exhaustion was made worse by commercial pressure and the complicated recording of the album Gaucho (1980). Becker and Fagen suspended their partnership in June 1981.

Work in record production (1981–1993)

Following Steely Dan's breakup, Becker and his family moved to Maui. Becker ceased using drugs, stopped smoking and drinking, and became an "avocado rancher and self-styled critic of the contemporary scene."

He produced albums for the new wave bands Fra Lippo Lippi and China Crisis, and is credited on the latter's 1985 album Flaunt the Imperfection as a member of the band. He also produced albums for Michael Franks and John Beasley. Becker produced Rickie Lee Jones's album Flying Cowboys and played bass on the main title track co-written by Pascal Nabet Meyer, which was certified gold by the RIAA in 1997. Becker and Fagen reunited in 1986 to collaborate on Zazu, the debut album by Rosie Vela. In 1991, Becker appeared in Fagen's New York Rock and Soul Revue.

Steely Dan reformation (1993–2017)

In 1993, Becker produced Fagen's album Kamakiriad. A year later, Fagen co-produced Becker's debut album 11 Tracks of Whack.

Also in 1993, Steely Dan began touring for the first time in nineteen years, resulting in the 1995 release of their first live album, Alive in America, a compilation of live recordings from different American tour dates in 1993 and 1994.

In 2000 they released Two Against Nature, their first album of new material in twenty years. The album won four Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. In 2001 they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received honorary doctorates from the Berklee College of Music, which they accepted in person. In 2003, they released the album Everything Must Go with Becker singing lead vocal on "Slang of Ages". They followed the album with a tour.

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. 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). He was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2008.

His second solo album, Circus Money, was released on June 10, 2008, fourteen years after its predecessor. The songs were inspired by reggae and other styles of Jamaican music.

Instruments and equipment

Becker was a collector of musical equipment, accumulating hundreds of guitars and amplifiers, as well as numerous other instruments, pedals, pre-wired pedalboards, "speakers, recording gear, and ephemera." In concert, he often played custom-built guitars modeled after Stratocasters.

After his death, his gear was auctioned off by Julien's for US$3.3 million in total. Becker's guitar and amp collection was the largest ever sold by Julien's, whose owner said "what made collection unique" was that Becker "literally played all of them."

In a column for Guitar Player magazine published in 1994, Becker coined the acronym G.A.S. ("Guitar Acquisition Syndrome"), denoting the uncontrolled accumulation of music gear. The term was later adapted as Gear Acquisition Syndrome in online forums and music magazines.

Personal life

In 1984 Becker married Elinor Roberta Meadows, a yoga teacher, and the couple had two children, including adopted daughter Sayan. They divorced in 1997. Becker wrote the song "Little Kawai" for his son, and it became the final song on the album 11 Tracks of Whack.

Becker was also married to Delia Cioffi and Juanna Fatouros.

Illness and death

In the spring of 2017, Becker was diagnosed with "an aggressive form of esophageal cancer" during an annual medical checkup. Despite undergoing vigorous treatment, the cancer rapidly worsened to the point that he did not perform at Steely Dan's concerts in the months that followed. He died from the disease on September 3, 2017, at the age of 67, at his home in Manhattan, New York City. At the time of his death, no cause or other details were announced, but a statement released in November by Becker's widow, Delia Becker, detailed his struggle with the disease.

In a statement released to the media the day of Becker's death, Fagen recalled his long-time friend and musical partner as "smart as a whip, an excellent guitarist and a great songwriter," and closed by stating that he intended to "keep the music we created together alive as long as I can with the Steely Dan band."

Julian Lennon, Steve Lukather, John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats and other musicians made public statements mourning Becker's death. Rickie Lee Jones, whose album Flying Cowboys was produced by Becker, recalled her long friendship with him in an editorial she wrote for Rolling Stone.

Discography

Studio albums

• 11 Tracks of Whack (1994)
• Circus Money (2008)

As sideman or producer

• 1969 Alias Boona, Terence Boylan (Guitar, bass)
• 1974 First Grade, Thomas Jefferson Kaye (Bass)
• 1978 Apogee, Pete Christlieb and Warne Marsh (Co-Producer with Donald Fagen)
• 1985 Flaunt the Imperfection, China Crisis (Producer, synthesiser, percussion)
• 1986 Zazu, Rosie Vela (Lead guitar, guitar, synthesiser)
• 1987 Light and Shade, Fra Lippo Lippi (Producer, guitar)
• 1989 Diary of a Hollow Horse, China Crisis (Producer, synthesiser)
• 1989 Blue Pacific, Michael Franks (Producer)
• 1989 Flying Cowboys, Rickie Lee Jones (Producer, bass)
• 1991 You Wish, LeeAnn Ledgerwood (Producer)
• 1991 Objects In The Mirror, Jeff Beal (Producer)
• 1991 Tell Tale Signs, Bob Sheppard (Producer)
• 1991 PleasureSeekers, Andy LaVerne (Producer)
• 1991 Looking At The Bright Side, Bob Bangerter (Mixing)
• 1992 Jigsaw, Jeremy Steig (Producer)
• 1992 Cauldron, John Beasley (Producer)
• 1992 Persistent Dreams, Dave Kikoski (Producer, liner notes)
• 1993 Lost Tribe, Lost Tribe (Producer)
• 1993 Double Standard, Andy LaVerne (Producer)
• 1995 A Change Of Heart, John Beasley (Producer)
• 1993 Kamakiriad, Donald Fagen (Producer, bass, guitar)
• 1994 Mose the Fireman, John Beasley
• 2005 All One, Krishna Das (Producer, bass)
• 2005 Tough on Crime, Rebecca Pidgeon (Guitar solo on the track Tough on Crime)
• 2009 Baritonality, Roger Rosenberg (Producer)

References

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2. Russonello, Giovanni, "Listen to 13 Essential Walter Becker Songs." New York Times, 2017-09-04. Accessed 2019-05-29.
3. J. L. Kelley (2021). "West of Hollywood: Humor as reparation in the life and work of Walter Becker." In: E. Vanderheiden & C.-H. Mayer (Eds.), The Palgrave Handbook of Humour Research (pp. 363-379). London: Palgrave Macmillan
4. Wllkinson, Alec (March 30, 2000). "Steely Dan: Return of the Dark Brothers". rollingstone.com. Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
5. ^ Wilkinson, Alec (March 30, 2000). "Steely Dan: Return of the Dark Brothers". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
6. ^ Sweet, Brian (2000). Steely Dan: Reelin' in the Years. Omnibus Press. pp. 11–. ISBN 978-0-7119-8279-6. Retrieved June 18, 2009. Walter Becker was born on Monday, February 20, 1950, in the Forest Hills area of Queens in New York
7. ^ Bonzai, Mr. (September 1, 2008). "Solo 'Circus Money' Has Deep Grooves". Mix Online. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
8. Brunner, Rob (March 17, 2006). "Back to Annandale: The Origins of Steely Dan". EW.com. Archived from the original on January 19, 2007. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
9. Morris, Chris (September 3, 2017). "Walter Becker, Steely Dan Guitarist, Dies at 67". Variety. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
10. Graff, Gary; Durchholz, Daniel (2012). Rock 'n' Roll Myths: The True Stories Behind the Most Infamous Legends. Minneapolis, MN: Voyageur Press. p. 204. ISBN 978-0760342305.
11. ^ Kreps, Daniel (September 3, 2017). "Walter Becker, Steely Dan Co-Founder, Dead at 67". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
12. Weiler, A. H. (September 20, 1971). "'You've Got to Walk It...,' Genial Put-Down of Establishment". The New York Times. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
13. ^ Pareles, Jon (September 3, 2017). "Walter Becker, Guitarist, Songwriter and Co-Founder of Steely Dan, Dies at 67". The New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
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15. "Official Steely Dan FAQ". Archived from the original on December 27, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2007.
16. Gill, Andy (April 1995). "Hasn't He Grown". Q. No. 103. EMAP Metro. pp. 41–43.
17. Anderson, Stacy (June 21, 2011). "When Jimmy Page Debuted With the Yardbirds and Steely Dan Broke Up". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
18. Kamiya, Gary (March 14, 2000). "Sophisticated Skank". Salon. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
19. Cromelin, Richard (November 3, 1991). "Return of the Nightfly". The Steely Dan Reader. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
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21. Woodard, Josef (November 2017). "Remembering Walter Becker: A Maverick in Plain Sight". Downbeat. Elmhurst, Illinois. p. 24.
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25. "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
26. Henderson, Alex. "Zazu – Rosie Vela". AllMusic. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
27. Willman, Chris (September 3, 2017). "The 1993 interview when Walter Becker opened up about Steely Dan's subversive intentions". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
28. Browne, David (May 28, 1993). "Kamakiriad". EW.com. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
29. Ruhlmann, William. "11 Tracks of Whack". AllMusic. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
30. "Commencement 2001 – Berklee College of Music". Berklee.edu. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
31. Frazier, Preston (October 13, 2013). "Steely Dan Sunday, "Slang of Ages" (2003)". Something Else!. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
32. Sweet, Brian (February 9, 2015). Steely Dan: Reelin' in the Years. Omnibus Press. ISBN 9781783235292. Retrieved September 3, 2017 – via Google Books.
33. "Long Island Music Hall of Fame – Preserving & Celebrating the Long Island musical heritage". Limusichalloffame.org. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
34. "walter becker – circus money – official site". Walter Becker. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
35. ^ "Event Details". www.juliensauctions.com. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
36. "Can Buy a Thrill: The luthier-built guitars of Walter Becker". Fretboard Journal. September 17, 2020. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
37. Chelin, Pamela (October 21, 2019). "Steely Dan's Walter Becker Estate Auction Fetches $3.3M on Hundreds of Guitars, Amps & More". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
38. "Steely Dan's Walter Becker was a gearhead's gearhead. Now his entire collection is up for auction". Los Angeles Times. October 17, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
39. Walter Becker: "The Dreaded G.A.S.", in: Guitar Player, April 1994, p. 15.
40. Smith, Giles (January 27, 1994). "A big hello from Hawaii". The Independent. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
41. McIver, Joel (September 4, 2017). "Walter Becker obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
42. Menconi, David (September 3, 2017). "Walter Becker, reeling in the years to the end". The News Observer. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
43. "Walter Becker". IMDb. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
44. "Walter Becker's Widow Says Steely Dan Co-Founder Died of Esophageal Cancer". November 15, 2017.
45. "Walter Becker's Widow Details Steely Dan Co-Founder's Swift Illness, Death". Rolling Stone. November 15, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
46. "Official Walter Becker | February 20, 1950 – Sep 3, 2017". Walter Becker. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
47. "Walter Becker's Widow Says Steely Dan Co-Founder Died of Esophageal Cancer". Variety. November 15, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2017.
48. Saperstein, Pat (September 3, 2017). "Steely Dan's Donald Fagen on Walter Becker: 'Hysterically Funny, a Great Songwriter'". Variety. Retrieved September 23, 2017.
49. Lennon, Julian (September 3, 2017). "So, so sad to hear this news.. SD played locally a few years ago, they were as amazing as ever... I asked to go" (Tweet). Retrieved September 3, 2017 – via Twitter.
50. Lukather, Steve (September 3, 2017). "Really sad to hear Walter Becker has passed... Steely Dan music touched me deep. My desert Island music. RIP Walter. Condolences Donald." (Tweet). Retrieved September 3, 2017 – via Twitter.
51. Darnielle, John (September 3, 2017). "Steely Dan changed the way I understand music forever; I started writing songs under the name "the Mountain Goats" the same month 1/2" (Tweet). Retrieved September 3, 2017 – via Twitter.
52. Jones, Rickie Lee (September 3, 2017). "Read Rickie Lee Jones' Poignant Tribute to Steely Dan's Walter Becker". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
53. Jones, Chris (July 16, 2008). "BBC Music Review". BBC. Retrieved September 3, 2017.
54. "Walter Becker | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved October 8, 2017.

External links

• Official website
• Companion media website - www.walterbeckermedia.com
• Walter Becker at AllMusic
• Walter Becker discography at Discogs

• 1950 births
• 2017 deaths
• 20th-century American guitarists
• 20th-century American male musicians
• 20th-century American singers
• 21st-century American guitarists
• 21st-century American male musicians
• 21st-century American singers
• American male bass guitarists
• American male guitarists
• American male songwriters
• American people of British descent
• American rock bass guitarists
• American rock guitarists
• American rock singers
• American rock songwriters
• Bard College alumni
• Deaths from cancer in New York (state)
• Deaths from esophageal cancer
• Grammy Award winners
• Jazz-rock guitarists
• Musicians from Queens, New York
• People from Forest Hills, Queens
• Record producers from New York (state)
• Stuyvesant High School alumni