SESSION MUSICIANS

SESSION MUSICIANS

The late fifties and sixties saw an influx of session musicians converge on Los

Angeles. Hollywood the capitol of Americas entertainment business and it

demanded high standards and versatility. One had to switch from Jazz to rock,

surf to folk, to easy listening at a moments notice.

The chief source of income tended to be albums, which used full orchestras and

lucrative because of the amount of work included. A session musician was either

based at record studios if not contracted to record companies. Working together

on a daily basis, musicians developed a keen knowledge of each other. For instance

James Burton (Guitar and Dobro), Glen Campbell (Rhythm guitar, Pedal Steel) Leon

Russell (Keyboards) Hal Blaine (Drums) often worked on the same projects. They

became known as the elite of the Los Angeles scene.

James Burton experienced in Pop and Country worked with Dale Hawkins, Ricky

Nelson. Glen Campbell as well as a solo artist with Capitol Records, was a

Nashville session player. Leon was part of the Jerry Lee Lewis entourage whilst

Hal Blaine drummed with rockabilly band the Raiders and backed Patti Page and

Tommy Sands.

Arranger and Keyboardist for Phil Spector, Jack Nitzsche, went on to join Neil Young’s group Crazy

Horse, whilst David Gates, guitar, keyboards, violin and arranger of music for Presley films (he also

wrote Saturday’s Child, for the Monkees), formed Bread with fellow West Coast session player James Griffin.

Carole Kay, a jazz-trained bass player was the only woman on the Los Angeles

circuit of session musicians and introduced by Little Richard’s manager ‘Bumps’

Blackwell. She played on everything from Beach Boys to Movies to Motown, and

described how the Beach Boys were not keen to advertise their session players.

Later on groups were proud to do so and list such people as Barney Kessel, Ry

Cooder, Gene Page, and Van Dyke Parks. The original ‘Surf’s Up’ a song by the

Beach Boys also co-written by Parks along with Brian Wilson. Gene Page

arranged Barry White’s composed track ‘I Feel Love Coming On’ for Felice

Taylor in 1967. Barney Kessel also a seasoned jazz virtuoso, and always on

demand.

Part of the famous Hollywood session players would often include Leon, Hal

Blaine and Larry Knetchel who provided the backing to the Byrd’s

Mr. Tambourine Man’ as well as for the Mamas and Papas and The Turtles.

Session Musicians were such a huge part of the music industry and still are.

Footnote: Gordon Lightfoot album ‘If You Could Read My Mind’

On Electric guitar John Sebastian (Lovin Spoonful)

Bottleneck guitar Ry Cooder – 17 solo albums

String Arrangements Randy Newman – 11 solo albums

Harmonium Van Dyke Parks

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *