‘Sneaky’ Pete Dies

Flying Burrito Brothers steel guitar wizard "Sneaky" Pete Kleinow, 72, died at a Petaluma, Calif., convalescent home January 6th. He had been living in a skilled nursing facility with Alzheimer’s disease since last year, according to his daughter.

The musician’s prowess on the pedal steel influenced a generation of artists including The Steve Miller Band, Poco, and Eagles.

After retiring from music, Kleinow went on to become an award-winning film animator and special effects artist. His credits ranged from designing cartoons for the original "Gumby" series (and writing the theme song) to directing television commercials.