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Topic: Richard Bennett -- Back to the future |
Randy Schneider
From:
SW New Mexico, USA
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Posted 23 Dec 2016 8:11 am |
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Ok, Richard Bennett is probably best known for his 6-string guitar work, but he does play a mean lap steel and pedal steel as well. And a lot of other stringed things...
After I had finally heard of him through his work with Mark Knopfler (I know, I'm out of touch...), I found that he's played on hundreds and hundreds of recordings, with just about every big name that's out there. (Herb Steiner just mentioned, in a post the other day, talking to Richard, who was working in a CA music store many years ago.)
A recent post on Richard's blog said that he's about to rejoin Neil Diamond (he left Neil's band 30 years ago after 17 years with the singer!) for Neil's 50th Anniversary tour. And Neil has asked Richard's son to join them on stage as well -- how cool is that!!
From Richard's blog:
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About three weeks ago I heard from the Diamond camp, who I’ve never lost touch with through all these years. Turns out both of Neil’s tenured guitar players had, independently of each other, retired. Neil was wanting to contact my son Nick whose reputation as a guitar slinger preceded him. By the way, might I be available as well? It was a convergence of opportunity, desire and scheduling. For many years I’ve always thought how good it would be to do one more lap with my old buddy and boss. I’d learned so much from him in those early years and could now approach it as a seasoned professional. The very first contact I made was Mark K. and got his blessing as it looks like a quiet year for touring. The next was to my friend Kim Richey who I’d promised to produce an album for next year. I was looking forward to working with her again and this would be a disappointment for us both. Finally, I doubled back around to Neil to make sure he was serious about having me back in the band after such a long hiatus. He was serious. There was little else to say but yes. So, it’s official, I will be on Neil’s 50th Anniversary Tour beginning in April. I’m looking forward to playing some music with him again and some of my old mates who are still in the band as well as elbowing my way in with the newer members. A big plus for me will be sharing the guitar duties on stage with my son Nick who is really a great guitar player. We’ve done a fair bit of recording together but this will be a new adventure playing large venues with him riding shot-gun and saving my ass no doubt. Speaking of Neil, I am playing on his current Christmas album, Acoustic Christmas.
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Pretty neat stuff.
I am just so impressed by guys like Richard, like so many of you forum members, that have contributed so much to the music world over the years. A hearty thank you to Richard and to all of you who, while maybe not being the featured names on the front of the album covers, have done so much to enrich the musical lives of us all. |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 23 Dec 2016 11:03 am
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Richard is one of my favorites, I have seen him play live with Knopfler several times.
I have his solo albums as well, good stuff.
Richard was also a member of The Cherry Bombs, later they added "Notorious" as the first word - a great band comprised of to mention a few of the members: Vince Gill, Rodney Crowell, and Hank DeVito.
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Mark |
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Frank Freniere
From:
The First Coast
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Posted 23 Dec 2016 11:27 am
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| He did some great work with the early Steve Earle, too. |
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Randy Schneider
From:
SW New Mexico, USA
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Posted 23 Dec 2016 11:49 am
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| ...and he's producing the new Steve Earle stuff, according to the blog post. |
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Matt Elsen
From:
Deer Harbor, Orcas Island, WA
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Posted 24 Dec 2016 9:20 am
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| Bennett's "Themes from a Rainy Decade" is still available as a download. One of my all time favorite instrumental albums. |
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