Posted on 03/11/2019 4:07:10 PM PDT by DeathBeforeDishonor1
Drummer Hal Blaine, who propelled dozens of major hit records during the ‘60s and ‘70s as a member of the “Wrecking Crew,” Hollywood’s elite, ubiquitous cadre of first-call studio musicians, died Monday, according to a statement from family members on his official Facebook page. He was 90.
“May he rest forever on 2 and 4,” read the statement. “The family appreciates your outpouring of support and prayers that have been extended to Hal from around the world, and respectfully request privacy in this time of great mourning. No further details will be released at this time.”
According to a 2017 Modern Drummer feature by Dennis Diken (himself the drummer of the New Jersey band the Smithereens), Blaine appeared on more than 35,000 recordings, including some 6,000 singles.
“Blaine’s drumming could be found on all reaches of the Hot 100 — usually near the top,” Diken wrote.
He was featured on the majority of Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound” productions, including the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby,” which featured perhaps the most indelible drum introduction in rock ‘n’ roll history. He also appeared on many of the Beach Boys’ best-known records (standing in for the L.A. band’s Dennis Wilson), including the classic 1966 album “Pet Sounds” and the experimental single from that same year, “Good Vibrations.”
Blaine appeared on such No. 1 hits as the Crystals’ “He’s a Rebel,” the Byrds’ “Mr. Tambourine Man,” Frank Sinatra’s “Strangers in the Night,” Simon & Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” the 5th Dimension’s “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” the Carpenters’ “Close to You” and Barbra Streisand’s “The Way We Were.”
The most adaptable of studio percussionists, he also cut dates such notables as Elvis Presley (on both record and movie dates), Sam Cooke, Dean Martin, Jan & Dean, Johnny Rivers, the Monkees, Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Nancy Sinatra, the Mamas and the Papas, Cher, John Denver and Steely Dan.
In the end it may be easier to list the musicians he didn’t support during his years of work during the heyday of such Hollywood studios as Capitol, Gold Star, United, Western and RCA. His work also encompassed movie soundtracks and TV scores and themes.
Blaine was married and divorced five times. His survivors include daughter Michelle.
Imagine being able to turn on a Top 40 radio station and saying “I played on that one, I played on that one, I played on that one...”
Love love love ! Leonid and friends!!!!!
He joins a buttload of amazing departed Wrecking Crew souls — Tommy Tedesco, Leon Russell, Glen Campbell, Joe Osborne, Earl Palmer — the list goes on and on.
Another ‘day the music died’ a little bit more...
A legend behind so many hits.
I clicked onto your song and agree it was a terrific song.
Off topic, but I stumbled onto this song after listening to your link.....Forgot what a wonderful voice Judith Durham truly had!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmactMIhrRM&start_radio=1&list=RDKmactMIhrRM#t=0
He was NOT a great husband.
He played on a staggering number of hits.
“...although the piece is not about family relationships.”
‘Blaine was married and divorced five times. His survivors include daughter Michelle.’
It actually was a topic in the article as you can clearly see.
I take it from the tone of your reply post to me that you didn’t appreciate the second half of my comment....Too bad as 5 marriages is inordinate and hardly “petty”.
listened to his music, never gave a shit about his personal life
see # 30
I did...and you better learn quick noob, this is a G rated forum so watch your language.
.
It was a side note in the career of a great drummer........What the F's the matter with you people anyway? You drunk tonight and need someone to argue with?.....This place is getting weird........
My original posting: “Phenomenal drummer, though not a great husband it would appear”
Pretty innocuous albeit likely accurate post I would have thought.
Got a pejorative response in reply. What’s so weird about defending ones reasoning?
RIP.
Wow. Those guys rock! Thank you so much for sharing that. The drummer’s fantastic. Hell, they all are. I’m a musician and I would consider myself fortunate to be in such company.
Judith Durham’s voice was great until not that many years ago.
She’s 75 now.
Really nice song, her voice was so “pure”. I’ve always thought there were similarities in sound between her and Mama Cass although hers was the smoother of the two.
Wow 75, really feel old now.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.