Walter Becker
| Walter Becker | |
|---|---|
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Walter Carl Becker |
| Born |
February 20, 1950 Queens, New York |
| Origin | New York |
| Genres | Jazz-rock |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, producer |
| Instruments | Bass, guitar |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Labels | ABC, MCA, Giant, Reprise, Warner Bros. |
| Associated acts | Steely Dan, Donald Fagen, Jay & the Americans, China Crisis |
| Website | www |
Walter Carl Becker (born February 20, 1950) is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as the co-founder, guitarist, bassist and co-songwriter of Steely Dan.
Becker met future songwriting partner Donald Fagen while studying at Bard College. After a brief period of activity in New York, the two relocated to California in 1971 and formed the nucleus of Steely Dan, who enjoyed a critically and commercially successful 10-year career. Following the group's dissolution, Becker moved to Hawaii and reduced his musical activity, working primarily as a record producer. In 1985, he briefly became a member of the British sophisti-pop group China Crisis, producing and playing synthesizer on their record Flaunt the Imperfection.
Becker and Fagen reformed Steely Dan in 1993 and have remained active, most notably including their 2000 Two Against Nature album, which won four Grammy Awards. Becker has also released two solo albums, 1994's 11 Tracks of Whack and 2008's Circus Money.
Becker was born in Queens, New York City and grew up in Westchester County and Forest Hills, Queens. He graduated from Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan in the class of 1967. After starting out on saxophone, he switched to guitar and received instruction in blues technique from neighbor Randy Wolfe.
Becker met his long-time musical partner, Donald Fagen, while attending Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. While at Bard, Becker and Fagen formed and played in a number of groups, including The Leather Canary, which also included fellow student Chevy Chase on drums. At the time, Chase called the group "a bad jazz band." Becker left the school in 1969 prior to completing his degree and moved with Fagen to Brooklyn, where the two began to build a career as a songwriting duo. This period included a stint with Jay and the Americans under pseudonyms and the composition of the soundtrack to You've Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat, a Richard Pryor film released in 1971.
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