Larry Knechtel

Unless you were a bit of an obsessive record sleeve reader during your teen years, which I was, it's possible you haven't heard of Larry Knechtel who died on Monday. You have, unless you have been living under a rock for the past forty five years, heard his musicianship.

Larry, if I may call him that (because it saves making sure I spell his German surname correctly) was a keyboard player and guitarist who played with dozens of groups and artists over a fifty year period. Where to start? Well the piano on "Bridge over Troubled Water," by Simon and Garfunkel was played by him and earned him a Grammy in 1970, the electric organ on The Beach Boys classics "God Only Knows," (officially the most perfect pop song ever written) and "Good Vibrations," were his work, the rumbling bass on "Mr Tambourine Man," by The Byrds, the fantastic guitar intro and solo on Bread's, "Guitar Man."

Larry Knechtel wasn't just a consummate musician in his own right, he was part of the Phil Spector, "Wall of Sound," contributing to the classic 1963 "Christmas Album."

For a teenager in England looking through the album credits, either those printed on the back of the album sleeve or in some cases, mainly American releases, on the inner sleeve the name Larry Knechtel was the musical equivalent of a seal of approval. You knew if he appeared on the album then the quality was high. From 5th Dimension to Neil Diamond to The Monkees and to Mamas and Papas where there was quality pop music Larry was always in attendance.

It wasn't just in my teenager years that his name cropped up with regularity, in 1990's and again early in this decade he worked with Elvis Costello, possibly my favourite solo artist of all time, on three of Elvis's albums.

Session musicians rarely get the credit they deserve and even more rarely, Jimmy Page being the obvious exception, do they go on to enjoy great success in their own right. By joining David Gates in the band Bread Larry Knechtel did at least get some direct public acclaim for his work.