On September 3, 2017, Walter Becker died of non-communicable disease. The cancer was detected during one of his annual medical checkups and its presence came as a grim surprise to Walter, his doctors and to me. In June 1981 he and Fagen went their separate ways. [13][14][15] 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. Fagen gives his first in-depth interview since Becker's September death to talk legacy, lawsuit in latest episode of . The guitarist passed away on September 3at the age of 67, with a cause of death not confirmed at the time. He was seen as one of the most successful musician, songwriter, and record producer of all times. I am just beginning to emerge from its heartbreaking impact. [16], Despite the success of Aja in 1977, Becker suffered from setbacks during this period, including an addiction to narcotics. From that, and from the Harvard Dictionary of Music, I learned everything I wanted to know. I was busy dissolving everything else about myself, Becker said, so it seemed the logical extension.. Walter Becker performing with Steely Dan in 1973. He produced albums for the new wave bands Fra Lippo Lippi and China Crisis, and is credited on the latters 1985 album Flaunt the Imperfection as a member of the band. 'He just ran out of time much sooner than any of us thought possible,' she said. Becker wrote the song Little Kawai for his son, and it became the final song on the album 11 Tracks of Whack. We want that ongoing flow, that lightness, that forward rush of jazz. Steely Dan disbanded the following year and Becker fled to Maui with his then-wife Elinor, a yoga teacher, with whom he had his son Kawai, now 32, and adopted a daughter, Sa. Walter Carl Becker (February 20, 1950 - September 3, 2017) was an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. Moving to Hawaii and recovering from his addiction, Becker embarked on building a family. Rolling Stone called Becker "a behind-the-scenes maestro," moving to Los Angeles with Fagen in 1971 to work as staff writers for ABC Records. . Want to know what everyone in the music business is talking about. In 1971, Becker and Fagen moved to Los Angeles and formed Steely Dan with guitarists Denny Dias and Jeff Skunk Baxter, drummer Jim Hodder, and vocalist David Palmer. Becker missed a series of Steely Dan concerts in the weeks prior to his death, which his bandmate Donald Fagan attributed to him recovering from a procedure. However, in his wifes statement, she explains that he was actually undergoing an intense regimen of chemotherapy at Sloan Kettering during that time. Becker met future songwriting partner Donald Fagen while they were students at Bard College. (2013), The A-Team (2010) and Zodiac (2007). In August,FagentoldBillboardthat his bandmate was recovering from a procedure, but didnt elaborate further. 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). Becker's widow, Delia Becker, wearing a black T-shirt designed with the cover art for Becker's second and final solo record, Circus Money, said her husband was "obsessed with sound" and. So in 1975, Becker and Fagen created an early 'supergroup', featuring performances from the likes of The Doobie Brothers'Michael McDonald,Toto's Jeff Porcaro and the Eagles' Timothy B. Schmit. Musicians such as Julian Lennon, Steve Lukather, and John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats made public statements mourning Beckers death. Family (1) Spouse Chris Mckay/Getty Images. [31] They followed the album with a tour. They Took a Third Date to Costa Rica. The following year Stanleys mother attempted to sue Becker for $17m, claiming that he had introduced her daughter to cocaine, morphine, heroin and barbiturates. He was the co-founder, guitarist, bassist, and co-songwriter of the jazz rock band Steely Dan. After Beckers parents separated when he was a boy, his mother, who was British, returned to England. For me personally, his death was a devastating blow, as I know it was for many of you. In January that year, his girlfriend Karen Stanley died following a drug overdose in his apartment on the Upper West Side. Famously known by the Family name Walter Becker, was a great musician, songwriter, and record producer. Rolling Stone published a letter written by late Steely Dan guitarist and co-founder Walter Becker 's widow Delia today. [6] His exhaustion was made worse by commercial pressure and the complicated recording of the album Gaucho (1980). Henry Diltz. I am just beginning to emerge from its heartbreaking impact. At the time of his passing on Sept. 3 no details were released about Beckers cause of death. Becker and Fagen reunited in 1986 to collaborate on Zazu, the debut album by Rosie Vela. The guitarist passed away on September 3 at the age of 67, with a cause of. [25] Becker and Fagen reunited in 1986 to collaborate on Zazu, the debut album by Rosie Vela. After Becker's parents separated when he was a boy, his British mother returned to England. It seemed to have come out of nowhere and had spread with terrifying speed. In a statement released to the media the day of Beckers 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.. The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time Neighbours revival cast: Who will be in the new season? Becker beat the addiction and slowly reentered the world of music. They divorced in 1997. Billboard is a part of Penske Media Corporation. With his large number of social media fans, he often posts many personal photos and videos to interact with his huge fan base on social media platforms. However, in a letter toSteely Dans fans, Beckers widow Delia reveals to Rolling Stone that her husband died following an extremely aggressive form of esophageal cancer., For me personally, his death was a devastating blow, as I know it was for many of you, Delia Becker wrote. 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. 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." It was with this 'enlarged band' concept, they released their best selling album Aja in 1977,their first platinum album which sold more than five million copies worldwide. In September, the world lost Walter Becker, co-founder, guitarist, bassist and co-songwriter of Steely Dan, but no cause of death was given at the time. Walter passed peacefully in our New York City home, surrounded by his family, his music, and a blustery rainstorm one of his favorite sounds blowing outside the window. He was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2008. , updated He just ran out of time much sooner than any of us thought possible. [46] At the time of his death, no cause or other details were announced,[13] but a statement released in November by Becker's widow, Delia Becker, detailed his struggle with the disease. Walter Becker, co-founder of Steely Dan, passed away this week at 67. . [7], 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. 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 has a pure loving kind heart personality. 'In keeping with his wishes, he was cremated without ceremony or memorial in New York City. Becker wrote the song "Little Kawai" for his son, and it became the final song on the album 11 Tracks of Whack. Suri Cruise looks just like Tom Cruise. [9] At the time, Chase called the group "a bad jazz band. Luckily, he was smart as a whip, an excellent guitarist and a great songwriter. I realize this is overdue, and I hope you will understand why. In the late '60s, the two worked with pop act "Jay and the Americans" before heading to Los Angeles to work as song-writers and eventually embarking on a career with themselves as the forefront as Steely Dan. 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. A year later, Fagen co-produced Beckers debut album 11 Tracks of Whack. Becker produced Rickie Lee Joness 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. Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Two months after Steely Dan. Walter Becker was born on February 20, 1950 in Queens, New York City, New York, USA. 'Walter had a very rough childhood I'll spare you the details. Becker released two solo albums, 11 Tracks of Whack (1994) and Circus Money (2008). In keeping with his wishes, he was cremated without ceremony or memorial in New York City. 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. Walter chose an intense regimen of chemotherapy at Sloan Kettering though, between the cancers aggressiveness and the overwhelming toxicity resulting from the chemotherapy treatments, Walter died less than four months after the cancer was detected. Walter Becker was born on February 20, 1950 in Queens, New York City, New York, USA. Family and friends can send flowers and condolences in memory of the loved one. It seemed to have come out of nowhere and had spread with terrifying speed. Following the groups dissolution, Becker moved to Hawaii and reduced his musical activity, working primarily as a record producer. Paul Bergen/Getty Images. He started out playing saxophone, and took up guitar in his teens. Becker reportedly paid $3,400 for the instrument and it sold for $68,750. now? There is no question Walter Becker was the most famous & most loved celebrity of all the time. The guitarists Denny Dias and Jeff Skunk Baxter rounded out the bands first line-up, alongside the drummer Jim Hodder. "(B)etween the cancer's aggressiveness and the overwhelming toxicity resulting from the chemotherapy treatments, Walter died less than four months after the cancer was detected," September 3, 2017, she said. For years . In the weeks prior to Beckers death, he missed Steely Dans Classic East and West concerts due to an unspecified ailment. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) By Chris Willman . Two months afterSteely Dan co-founder Walter Becker died unexpectedly on September 3rd, his cause of death remained a mystery. We want to hear it. It sounded like, you know, like a black person, really. At the time of his death, he was 67 years old. However, Fagens Kamakiriad (1993), produced by Becker, was preceded as a solo album by The Nightfly (1982), produced by Gary Katz. The album won four Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. 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