Renowned session musician Hal Blaine died this week at the age of 90. “The most recorded drummer in history,” according to the Rock & Roll Hall Fame, which Blaine was inducted into as part of the inaugural group of “sidemen,” his resume is filled with contributions to scores of hit records. Blaine played drums on an estimated 35,000 records during his career attaining 150 Top 10 hits, eight Grammy Awards for Record Of The Year and a total of 40 No. 1 hit singles.
Blaine began drumming in his 20s, getting his first session work in the 1950s on rock ‘n’ roll recordings. Blaine began working with infamous producer Phil Spector in the early-1960s, participating in sessions in Los Angeles with a group of musicians called The Wrecking Crew. Those sessions were built around Spector’s “Wall Of Sound” technique utilized on such hits as The Crystals’ “He’s A Rebel” and The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby.”
Among the other acts Blaine played drums with include The Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, Simon & Garfunkel, Herb Alpert, Sam Cooke, Leonard Cohen, The Byrds, The Supremes, John Denver, The Mamas & The Papas, Frank Sinatra, Jerry Garcia & David Grisman, Steely Dan, Neil Diamond and Glen Campbell. Each of those musicians and more is featured in the Spotify Playlist below:
