Larry Knechtel
Lawrence William Knechtel (August 4, 1940 – August 20, 2009) was an American keyboard player and bassist, best known as a member of the Wrecking Crew, a collection of Los Angeles-based session musicians who worked with such renowned artists as Simon & Garfunkel, Duane Eddy, the Beach Boys, the Mamas & the Papas, the Monkees, the Partridge Family, Billy Joel, the Doors, the Grass Roots, Jerry Garcia, and Elvis Presley, and as a member of the 1970s band Bread. Biography. Born in Bell, California, in 1940, Knechtel began his musical education with piano lessons. In 1957, he joined the Los  Angeles-based rock and roll band Kip Tyler and the Flips. In August 1959, he joined instrumentalist Duane Eddy as a member of his band the Rebels. After four years on the road with the band, and continuing to work with Eddy in the recording studio, Knechtel became part of the Los Angeles session musician scene, working with Phil Spector as a pianist to help create Spector's famous "Wall of Sound". Knechtel became a prominent member of session musicians the Wrecking Crew, performing on many hit songs of the period and earning him entry into the Musicians Hall of  Fame and Museum in 2007. In 1970 Knechtel won a Grammy Award for his piano work on "Bridge over Troubled Water" by Simon and Garfunkel. He also played the piano on Johnny Rivers' 1972 hit "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu". Knechtel joined soft rock band Bread in 1971 after the departure of Robb Royer and remained with the band until their split in 1973. He rejoined the band for subsequent comebacks and reunions. Knechtel was proficient on other musical instruments, notably the harmonica, guitar, and bass, which can be heard on "Mr. Tambourine Man" by the Byrds, "Stoney  End" by Barbra Streisand, "If I Can Dream" by Elvis Presley, and the Doors' debut album. In 1971, he joined the band Bread, where his contributions included bass, keyboards, and the guitar solo on the hit single "The Guitar Man". He also played on sessions for Nancy Sinatra. During the late 1980s, Knechtel moved to Nashville, where he was signed to a solo recording contract. He released two solo albums in quick succession, "Mountain Moods" (1989) and "Urban Gypsy" (1990). In later years, Knechtel lived in semi-retirement in Yakima, Washington, until his death. He had, however, worked with record  producer Rick Rubin, contributing keyboards to albums by Neil Diamond, Arlen Roth and the Dixie Chicks, touring with Elvis Costello and with the Dixie Chicks in support of their Grammy Award-winning album "Taking the Long Way". During this time Knechtel contributed guest spots on many recordings for dozens of Northwest artists including Wayman Chapman, Ken Stringfellow (Posies, R.E.M., Big Star), Quakers On Probation, Dimestore Mystery, Elba, Animals at Night, Zera Marvel, Colin Spring, Lesley Rostron & Lovejunkie, and his son, Lonnie Knechtel. Knechtel died on August 20, 2009, in Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, Washington, at the age of 69 of  an apparent heart attack. Awards and recognition. In 2007 Knechtel, along with the other members of the Wrecking Crew, was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee. Discography. Session work. With the Byrds With the We Three Trio With Barbra Streisand With the Beach Boys With The Doors With Elvis Presley With Cher With the Dameans With Simon & Garfunkel With Solomon Burke With the Mamas and the Papas With Emitt Rhodes With Elvis Costello With Paul Simon With Chet Baker With Dave Mason With Nancy Sinatra With Albert Hammond With Howard Roberts With Cass Elliott  With Evie Sands With Thelma Houston With Glen Campbell With Jerry Garcia With Peter Allen With Harry Nilsson With Dan Hill With Barry Mann With Lalo Schifrin With Roy Orbison With Jimmy Webb With José Feliciano With Jackie DeShannon With Brian Cadd With Ron Davies With Bobby Darin With Art Garfunkel With Stephen Bishop With David Clayton-Thomas With Jackie Lomax With Billy Joel With Barry McGuire With Paul Young With Dolly Parton With Al Kooper With Johnny Rivers With John Denver With Chet Atkins With Helen Reddy With Joan Baez With Arlen Roth With Neil Diamond