Barry
Edward Beckett
Renowned record producer and
Musicians Hall of Fame member. Barry Beckett passed away on June 10,
2009 from
complications from a stroke. He was sixty six years old. He is survived
by his
wife of forty three years, Diane Beckett; two sons and their wives,
Matthew and
Liz, Mark and Jessie; one grandson, Anthony. Born in Birmingham,
Alabama,
Barry's five-decade career began in Muscle Shoals in 1967, where he was
a
member of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. There he played keyboards
on
records by Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, The Staple Singers, Bob
Seger,
Traffic, Rod Stewart, Paul Simon, and many others. He also produced
records on
such artists as Bob Dylan, Dire Straits, Glen Frey, Joan Baez, and
Delbert
McClinton. After moving to Nashville in 1985, he produced records on
Alabama,
Kenny Chesney, Lorrie Morgan, Eddy Raven, Tanya Tucker, Tammy Wynette,
Neal
McCoy, Confederate Railroad, and Hank Williams, Jr., including the 1988
CMA
Album of the Year, "Born to Boogie". He continued to contribute his
keyboard talents on many records as well, including his acclaimed piano
work on
Vince Gill's "When I Call Your Name". Barry also continued producing
rock artists, such as Bob Seger the eclectic band Phish, and legendary
soul
singer, Etta James. If there was one creative outlet that equaled his
love of
making records, it was collecting and building model railroads. He
particularly
enjoyed his time with Nashville NTrak at the Tennessee Central Railway
Museum
in Nashville. Barry was a lifetime member of the American Federation of
Musicians and an inductee of The Alabama Music Hall of Fame. In lieu of
flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Musicians Hall
of Fame
& Museum, 301 6th Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37203 or The Alabama
Music
Hall of Fame, P.O. Box 740405, Tuscumbia, AL 35674. A memorial will be
set for
a date to be announced.