Back in the ’50s and ’60s, the music industry operated a little differently. During those early days of rock and pop music, solo artists were more common than bands with permanent members, which would arise in later decades. For that reason, many record labels had their own in-house musicians to aid in recordings. These studio musicians, often called session musicians, played on some of the most important and iconic songs and albums during those years. They would go on to redefine the course of popular music while never receiving the praise they deserved.
Studio musicians are far less common today, and those who do feature on pop stars’ records often have their own relatively successful musical careers. So, today, we will look at some of the most important and prolific studio musicians from that era. Although their names are far less known than those whose records they played on, they deserve all the credit we can give for making those records what they are.
So, without further delay, here are 4 of the best!
4 Studio Musicians That Changed Music History
Earl Palmer
Although few know his name, Earl Palmer was one of the people who created the genre we know as rock n’ roll. Born in New Orleans, Palmer joined the music industry at a young age, tap dancing next to his mother in the 1930s. Following his service in World War II, he learned to play several instruments just as the ’50s rock n’ roll craze was beginning. That positioned him perfectly to make music history among studio musicians with the likes of Little Richard, Fats Domino, and Smiley Lewis. He performed on tracks including “Tutti Frutti” (as well as nearly all Little Richard’s music), “The Fat Man,” “I Hear You Knocking,” and countless others.
During the 1960s, Palmer collaborated with every important artist in the industry. Furthermore, he worked to score many T.V. and film soundtracks. Palmer would go on to take part in nearly every significant musical moment right up to the ’70s. His illustrious career was summed up perfectly by one obituary that said, “his list of credits reads like a Who’s Who of American music of the last 60 years.”
Hal Blaine
If you’re a music fan, chances are you’ve heard Hal Blaine play hundreds–if not thousands–of times. Blaine started out in the mid0’40s after relocating his family to California to seek work among the industry’s studio musicians. Before long, he joined legendary producer Phil Spector’s in-house band he lovingly nicknamed “The Wrecking Crew.” And although he may not have known it at the time, Blaine was creating one of the music industry’s greatest secret weapons.
Over the following decades, solo and with The Wrecking Crew, Blaine recorded more than 35,000 sessions, 6,000 singles, and 150 Top Ten U.S. hits. He worked on recording with Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, and many, many more. You’ve heard his drums on The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby,” Sinatra’s “Strangers in the Night,” Simon & Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson,” and even The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations.”
All together, Blaine may be the musician with the largest number of hit songs in modern music history. Additionally, he toured with many of those artists and played in local clubs during breaks. His legend even claims he carried a stamp that read “Hal Blaine Strikes Again!,” that he would use to mark every piece of sheet music he used. Apparently, in the ’70s, you’d be hard-pressed to find club music in L.A. that didn’t bear his mark!
Carol Kaye
Although few know her name today, Carol King was one of the first non-singer female musicians to make a mark on music history. Very much like Hal Blaine, chances are you’ve heard her work again and again without knowing it. Also like Blaine, she was one of the powerhouse studio musicians who made up The Wrecking Crew.
A native of the musical hub that is L.A., Kaye held bass and guitar lessons when she was still a teenager. She got into the recording business in the ’50s after filling in for another session musician and then doing his job better. In the following years, she became one of the most sought-after studio bass players and took part in over 10,000 recordings. During that time, she worked with Frank and Nancy Sinatra, The Beach Boys, The Righteous Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Barbara Streisand, Sonny and Cher, Frank Zappa, and many more.
The Funk Brothers
The unfortunate reality of most mass-produced entertainment is that there is a lot of exploitation under all the glamour and glory. The music industry, especially during the ’50s and ’60s, is no different, and it was not uncommon for those who did all the work to get little to no credit. The Funk Brothers are a prime example of this.
To be frank, The Funk Brothers are one of (if not the sole) reason Motown became the household name we know today. From 1959 to 1972, when the company moved to L.A., the Funk Brothers recorded nearly every release from the label. They were behind The Temptations’ “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” and “My Girl,” Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard it Through The Grapevine,” The Supremes’ “Baby Love,” Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours,” and more.
Unlike other studio musicians at the time, The Funk Brothers, comprised of over a dozen musicians, rarely got credit for their work. Furthermore, when Motown moved in 1972, the lot of them were simply fired.
Final Thoughts on Studio Musicians
This short list is, of course, nowhere near comprehensive. If we had more time, we could talk about Steve Lukather, Time Pierce, Steve Gadd, James Jamerson, and Jimmy Page (yes, that Jimmy Page). In fact, we could go on and on about the underappreciated musicians who helped create the musical landscape that often acts as a foundation for today’s pop music.
Who is your favourite? Let us know in the comments!
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