Waddy quail

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Waddy Wachtel 2009

Robert "Waddy" Wachtel (born May 24, 1947 in Jackson Heights , Queens , New York City ) is an American musician (guitar, piano, vocals), composer and producer . He is best known as a sought-after studio musician who has accompanied numerous greats of rock music in the studio and on tours.

biography

Early years

Waddy Wachtel got his first guitar when he was nine years old. As a left-hander, he initially played the instrument "upside down" until a guitar teacher convinced him to play with his right hand. In the mid-1960s, Wachtel founded the band "The Orphans", which appeared with cover versions. His next band was "Twice Nicely", with whom he went to Los Angeles at the urging of Bud Cowsill (father and manager of the Cowsills ) . Here the group broke up, and in the late 1960s Wachtel began working in California as a session and tour musician, producer, arranger and composer.

Session and tour musicians

After a few projects with the Cowsills, Wachtel was hired by the Everly Brothers , on whose album Stories We Could Tell (1972) he played guitar. The artists and bands he subsequently accompanied musically include James Taylor ( In the Pocket , 1976), Warren Zevon ( Warren Zevon , 1976), Linda Ronstadt ( Simple Dreams , 1977), Randy Newman ( Little Criminals , 1977 ), Bob Weir ( Heaven Help the Fool , 1978), Brian Ferry ( The Bride Stripped Bare , 1978), Bonnie Raitt ( The Glow , 1979), Kim Carnes ( Mistaken Identity , 1981), Stevie Nicks ( Bella Donna , 1981) , Karla Bonoff ( Wild Heart of the Young , 1982), Don Henley ( I Can't Stand Still , 1982), Jackson Browne ( Lives in the Balance , 1986), Graham Nash ( Innocent Eyes , 1986), Cher ( Cher , 1987), Dolly Parton ( Rainbow , 1987), Keith Richards with the X-Pensive Winos ( Talk Is Cheap , 1988), Iggy Pop ( Brick by Brick , 1990), Bob Dylan ( Under the Red Sky , 1990), Bob Seger ( The Fire Inside , 1991), Rod Stewart ( Vagabond Heart , 1991), Tracy Chapman ( Matters of the Heart , 1992), Ringo Starr ( Time Takes Time , 1992), Tom Waits ( Bone Machine , 1992), Melissa E. theridge ( Yes I Am , 1993), Brian Wilson ( I Just Wasn't Made for These Times , 1995) and the Rolling Stones ( Bridges to Babylon , 1997). In 1996 Wachtels started a long-term collaboration with Adam Sandler , whom he accompanied on several albums and performances.

This list is only a selection, the albums mentioned serve as examples. Wachtel recorded several albums with some of the listed artists, notably with Stevie Nicks, Linda Ronstadt, Warren Zevon, James Taylor and Keith Richards. Wachtel also went on tour with several of the artists mentioned and others, wrote songs for them or produced their recordings. He also played repeatedly with the studio band " The Section " around guitarist Danny Kortchmar , although he was never officially a member.

In addition, Wachtel has often performed at benefit and tribute concerts, including “The Family Thing 2” (2004) for Bill Cowsill and the “ Ahmet Ertegün Tribute Concert” (2007).

In 2014 Wachtel was part of the studio band of the Welsh singer-songwriter Judith Owen on their production Ebb & Flow, together with bassist Leland Sklar and drummer Russ Kunkel .

Solo projects

In addition to his activities for other musicians, Wachtel also had some solo projects. 1973 released the single You're the One / Love You Should Save ; Both pieces were written by Wachtel, he played all the instruments and sang. In 1980 Wachtel was the front man of the band "Ronin", which brought out an album that was commercially unsuccessful. From 2000 he performed in Los Angeles with his Waddy Wachtel Band.

Movie and TV

There are numerous concert videos that show Waddy Wachtel in action. The concert recordings in which he plays guitar include: B. Crystal Visions - The Very Best of Stevie Nicks (recorded 2007) and The Soundstage Sessions (recorded 2007-2008, also with Stevie Nicks).

Wachtel also wrote music for a number of films including Much Smoke About Nothing (1978), Joe Dirt (2001), Dickie Roberts: Child Star (2003), The Bench Press (2006), Grandma's Boy (2006), and others.

Starting in 1979, Wachtel played several times, spread over a decade, in the band on the television show Saturday Night Live . In 1982 he appeared on Sesame Street and in 2004 on the sitcom Yes, Dear . He was also a guest musician on a number of other television shows.

Condemnation

In 1998, Waddy Wachtel and his wife were arrested after child pornography was found on their computer that they had given for repair . Wachtel was sentenced to three years probation.

Individual evidence

  1. a b c d Allmusic, see web links
  2. a b c d e f g h i Waddy Wachtel's website, see web links
  3. Los Angeles Times , Morning Report, July 11, 1998 (English)

Web links