Donald "Duck" Dunn | |
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Dunn in 2007
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Background information | |
Birth name | Donald Dunn |
Also known as | Duck |
Born |
Memphis, Tennessee, United States |
November 24, 1941
Died | May 13, 2012 Tokyo, Japan |
(aged 70)
Genres | Rock, soul, rhythm and blues |
Occupation(s) | Songwriter, producer, actor |
Instruments | Bass guitar |
Years active | 1960–2012 |
Associated acts | Otis Redding, Booker T & the MG's, Albert King, The Mar-Keys, The Blues Brothers, Sam & Dave |
Website | duckdunn |
Notable instruments | |
1957-2012: Fender Precision Bass 2004-2012: Lakland Duck Dunn Signature Bass (Precision copy) |
1957-2012: Fender Precision Bass
Donald "Duck" Dunn (November 24, 1941 – May 13, 2012) was an American bass guitarist, session musician, record producer, and songwriter. Dunn was notable for his 1960s recordings with Booker T. & the M.G.'s and as a session bassist for Stax Records. At Stax, Dunn played on thousands of records, including hits by Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Rufus Thomas, Carla Thomas, William Bell, Eddie Floyd, Johnnie Taylor, Albert King, Elvis Presley and many others. In 1992, he was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Booker T. & the M.G.'s.
Dunn was born in Memphis, Tennessee. His father nicknamed him "Duck" while watching Disney cartoons with him one day. Dunn grew up playing sports and riding his bike with another future professional musician, Steve Cropper.
After Cropper began playing guitar with their friend Charlie Freeman, Dunn decided to learn to play the bass guitar. Eventually, along with the drummer Terry Johnson, the four became the Royal Spades. The Messick High School group added the keyboardist Jerry Lee "Smoochy" Smith, the singer Ronnie Angel (also known as Stoots), and a budding young horn section in the baritone saxophone player Don Nix, tenor saxophone player Charles "Packy" Axton, and trumpeter (and future co-founder of the Memphis Horns) Wayne Jackson.