Over the weekend, the music world was struck by the news that Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker passed away at 67.
His death was confirmed on the musician’s personal website, in a tribute penned by his daughter. “You loved music more than anyone I know,” she wrote.
Not only a famed songwriter and record producer, Becker also co-founder the band Steely Dan. Formed in the early ’70s, the group became a soft rock staple and went on to sell more than 40 million albums.
Becker’s Steely Dan co-founder Donald Fagen released a statement paying tribute to his bandmate, concluding that he would “keep the music we created together alive as long as I can with the Steely Dan band.”
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Steely Dan’s sound caught the attention of many rappers and producers over the years, who have sampled it on numerous records.
One of the more notable tracks influenced by Steely Dan was Kanye West’s “Champion,” which samples the band’s “Did you realize, that you were a champion in their eyes” line from 1976’s “Kid Charlemagne.”
Both MF Doom and Lord Tariq & Peter Gunz opted to sample Steely Dan’s classic “Black Cow” for their tracks “Gas Drawls” and “Déjà Vu (Uptown Baby).”
While Wiz Khalifa made use of a Steely Dan sample on “Old Chanel.”
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg9RyiPKhx8
Given Becker’s influence on the genre, the Hip Hop community was quick to express condolences on social media.
Questlove offered a hearty tribute on Instagram, referring to Becker as “one of my favorite architects of the 70s ‘FM’ smooth sound.”
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In a tweet sent Sunday (September 3), producer Just Blaze wrote “RIP Walter Becker,” and also praised Steely Dan for their The Royal Scam and Aja albums.
Several other artists also posted tributes.
So far there’s been no word on the cause of death.
HipHopDX sends its condolences to the family, friends and fans of Walter Becker.
