Walter Becker
Walter Carl Becker (February 20, 1950 - September 3, 2017) was an American … Read Full Bio ↴Walter Carl Becker (February 20, 1950 - September 3, 2017) was an American musician, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the co-founder, guitarist, bassist and a co-writing half of the duo which make up the rock band Steely Dan.
Becker was born in Queens, New York, grew up in Westchester County and Forest Hills, Queens, and is a graduate of Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan, class of 1967. After starting out on saxophone, he switched to guitar and received instruction in blues technique from his neighbor Randy California of Spirit. Becker met his long-time musical partner Donald Fagen while attending Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. Becker and Fagen formed and played in a number of groups, their youthful career also included a stint with Jay and the Americans under pseudonyms prior to relocating to California and forming Steely Dan. Initially a full-fledged group and later distilled to the Becker-Fagen partnership augmented with numerous studio musicians, the band released seven successful albums in its initial ten-year career. In addition to co-writing all of the band's material, Becker played bass on many of the band's tracks, as well as providing guitar solos, rhythm guitar, occasional backing vocals and arrangements.
Following Steely Dan's breakup in 1981, Becker moved to Hawaii, and began a career as a record producer, producing records from Rickie Lee Jones, China Crisis and Michael Franks. Becker is actually credited as one of five official members of China Crisis on the sleeve of their 1985 album Flaunt the Imperfection, which he also produced; he also produced tracks on their 1989 album Diary of a Hollow Horse, although he is not credited as a band member on that release.
Becker reunited with Fagen briefly to collaborate on the debut album of U.S. singer, former fashion model Rosie Vela. Their partnership properly resumed in the mid-1990s as they undertook a tour under the Steely Dan moniker in 1993, effectively reuniting the band. Becker also produced Fagen's album Kamakiriad in that year as well. In turn, Fagen co-produced Becker's belated solo debut album, 1994's 11 Tracks of Whack.
Steely Dan continued touring, and their work on new material resulted in the first Steely Dan studio album in two decades, 2000's Two Against Nature. The album won four Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. The duo was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. The next Steely Dan record, Everything Must Go followed in 2003, featuring Becker's bass and electric guitar work, as well as the first studio Steely Dan track with a lead vocal by Becker, "Slang of Ages". The band spent the following years touring behind their back catalog.
Becker was later inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame on October 30, 2008. Becker's second solo album, Circus Money, was released on June 10, 2008. The album prominently featured Becker's bass playing, performances by much of the Steely Dan backing band, and work by producer Larry Klein (who received co-composition credits on all but one song). The songs were heavily inspired by reggae and other Jamaican music.
In 2001, both Becker and Fagen received Honorary Doctor of Music degrees from Berklee College of Music.
Other works
Becker produced Fra Lippo Lippi's 1987 Norwegian single, "Angel", as well as the 1985 China Crisis album, Flaunt The Imperfection. In 2005, Becker co-produced and played bass on the Krishna Das album All One. Becker played solo guitar on the title track of the 2005 Rebecca Pidgeon album Tough on Crime. Madeleine Peyroux's 2006 album Half the Perfect World featured a single, "I'm All Right", that was co-written by Becker with Peyroux and producer Larry Klein. Peyroux's 2009 album Bare Bones contains two songs co-written by Becker: the very Steely Dan-esque, "You Can't do Me" and the title-track "Bare Bones".
Becker was born in Queens, New York, grew up in Westchester County and Forest Hills, Queens, and is a graduate of Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan, class of 1967. After starting out on saxophone, he switched to guitar and received instruction in blues technique from his neighbor Randy California of Spirit. Becker met his long-time musical partner Donald Fagen while attending Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. Becker and Fagen formed and played in a number of groups, their youthful career also included a stint with Jay and the Americans under pseudonyms prior to relocating to California and forming Steely Dan. Initially a full-fledged group and later distilled to the Becker-Fagen partnership augmented with numerous studio musicians, the band released seven successful albums in its initial ten-year career. In addition to co-writing all of the band's material, Becker played bass on many of the band's tracks, as well as providing guitar solos, rhythm guitar, occasional backing vocals and arrangements.
Following Steely Dan's breakup in 1981, Becker moved to Hawaii, and began a career as a record producer, producing records from Rickie Lee Jones, China Crisis and Michael Franks. Becker is actually credited as one of five official members of China Crisis on the sleeve of their 1985 album Flaunt the Imperfection, which he also produced; he also produced tracks on their 1989 album Diary of a Hollow Horse, although he is not credited as a band member on that release.
Becker reunited with Fagen briefly to collaborate on the debut album of U.S. singer, former fashion model Rosie Vela. Their partnership properly resumed in the mid-1990s as they undertook a tour under the Steely Dan moniker in 1993, effectively reuniting the band. Becker also produced Fagen's album Kamakiriad in that year as well. In turn, Fagen co-produced Becker's belated solo debut album, 1994's 11 Tracks of Whack.
Steely Dan continued touring, and their work on new material resulted in the first Steely Dan studio album in two decades, 2000's Two Against Nature. The album won four Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. The duo was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. The next Steely Dan record, Everything Must Go followed in 2003, featuring Becker's bass and electric guitar work, as well as the first studio Steely Dan track with a lead vocal by Becker, "Slang of Ages". The band spent the following years touring behind their back catalog.
Becker was later inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame on October 30, 2008. Becker's second solo album, Circus Money, was released on June 10, 2008. The album prominently featured Becker's bass playing, performances by much of the Steely Dan backing band, and work by producer Larry Klein (who received co-composition credits on all but one song). The songs were heavily inspired by reggae and other Jamaican music.
In 2001, both Becker and Fagen received Honorary Doctor of Music degrees from Berklee College of Music.
Other works
Becker produced Fra Lippo Lippi's 1987 Norwegian single, "Angel", as well as the 1985 China Crisis album, Flaunt The Imperfection. In 2005, Becker co-produced and played bass on the Krishna Das album All One. Becker played solo guitar on the title track of the 2005 Rebecca Pidgeon album Tough on Crime. Madeleine Peyroux's 2006 album Half the Perfect World featured a single, "I'm All Right", that was co-written by Becker with Peyroux and producer Larry Klein. Peyroux's 2009 album Bare Bones contains two songs co-written by Becker: the very Steely Dan-esque, "You Can't do Me" and the title-track "Bare Bones".
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Walter Becker Lyrics
01 down in the bottom In case you're wondering it's alive and well That little ha…
A Horse in Town Left New Hyde Park to hold my own in New York…
A Little with Sugar I remember Christmas morning Back in 1954 When we moved…
Android Warehouse Daytime you're to proud to brag About the badge you wore Nig…
Any Major Dude Will Tell You I never seen you looking so bad my funky one You…
Any World If I had my way I would move to another lifetime I'd…
Any World That I If I had my way I would move to another lifetime I'd…
Any World That I'm Welcome Too If I had my way I would move to another lifetime I'd…
Barrytown I'm not one to look behind I know that times…
Bob Is Not Your Uncle Anymore This old house looks just the way it was Just a…
Book of Liars Bye and bye girl We'll get over The things we've done and…
Brain Tap Shuffle Take the worst of this quirky world Roll it up in…
Brain Trap Shuffle Take the worst of this quirky world Roll it up…
Brooklyn A race of angels Bound with one another A dish…
Caves of Altamira I recall when I was small How I spent my…
Charlie Freak Charlie Freak had but one thing to call his own…
Circus Money They bang the hammer and they pitch the tents Throw up…
Come Back Baby I don't like waiting for a knock on the door I…
Cringemaker What ever happened to my college belle When did she turn…
Darkling Down Well, along in the twenty first hour When the whole damn…
Do You Remember The Name Do you remember the scene Remember the scene of the crime? …
Don't Let Me In I hear you found a brand new friend Well if…
Door Number Two Tell me real, tell me true Tell me more about door…
Down At The Bottom In case you're wondering it's alive and well That little hab…
Downtown Canon I cracked the code and I knew what it's all…
Girlfriend Alone in my cave It's corn flakes and Camels And the long…
God's Eye View Last chance: Could you make it baby if you only…
Hard Up Case You told me once I was your pride and joy I…
Hat Too Flat We come in on the morning scan All the way from…
I Can I'm working hard from morning 'til night My shoulder bent in…
I Can't Function I'm working hard from morning 'til night My shoulder bent i…
Junkie Girl In the good old bad part of this college town Men…
Let George Do It What's this fierce new change? Has your juggernaut reached …
Little Kawai Here's a note from one Miss Turnbull Certain homework was no…
Lucky Henry Dusted down in shanty town behind a sky of red Hoist…
Medical Science My man stanley Suave but manly Taking cover from the mark …
Mock Turtle Song Will you walk a little faster?, said a whiting to…
More to Come The fish are flying in the county sea The cops are…
My Waterloo I came a long long way from home I travelled far…
Old Regime I heard them whispering I saw their eyes, their chests The…
Paging Audrey In the littlest hours 'tween the dusk and dawn While the…
Parker Savoy sides presents a new saxophone sensation It's Parker'…
Parkers Band Savoy sides presents a new saxophone sensation It's Parker's…
Selfish Gene Sweet little baby from the hills somewhere Here's a pretty …
Somebody Somebody’s Saturday night seems pleased to meet you Slouched…
Soul Ram Jolly tricks and politics May mess you up Soul Ram Little me…
Stone Piano Ten cent store is in my way Just can't do what…
Sun Mountain When I lost my way home I was helpless Like a small…
Surf And / Or Die Earthbound to Johnny boy just picked up your message 'Bout t…
Surf And/Or Die Earthbound to Johnny boy just picked up your message 'Bout …
The Mock Turtle Song Will you walk a little faster?, said a whiting to…
The Old Regime I heard them whispering I saw their eyes, their chests Their…
This Moody Bastard Little friend of mine Can you still recall Our salad days Be…
This Seat's Been Taken What is the meaning Of the morning rain? I got a feeling It'…
Three Picture Deal Here she stands in the doorway Her face is framed in…
Upside Looking Down Well, you came on like some blazing supernova With a flame…
Yellow Peril Hunting in the Sea of Japan Ambrose left the tourist trail…
You Go Where I Go I'm about to cry and I don't know the reason I…