Barry Beckett Dies

Barry Beckett, a musician, producer and A&R rep whose efforts are present throughout rock, R&B and country, died in his Hendersonville, Tenn., home June 10 after a long illness.

Beckett as keyboardist was a member of the Fame rhythm section that played on songs like Wilson Pickett’s “Land of 1,000 Dances,” Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman” and Paul Simon’s “Kodachrome.”

He was a member of Traffic and can be heard on the band’s On The Road live album.

He was also a member of the Muscle Shoals Sound and a founder of the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio.

His production credits include Bob Seger’s Night Moves, Dire Straits’ Communique, Bob Dylan’s Slow Train Coming and Hank Williams Jr.’s “Tears in My Beer,” along with recordings for acts from John Prine to Etta James.

Beckett was A&R country music director for Warner Brothers Records in the early ’80s.