Donald (Duck) Dunn: 1941-2012

Donald “Duck” Dunn, who died in Japan this weekend, tended to get overshadowed. It was probably how he liked it. With some exceptions, folks don’t take up bass guitar for fame (though fortune may have something to do with it). Though Dunn never was a superstar, he made them possible. Here is a two minute bio.

This paragraph from his website sums it up pretty well:

Among the timeless recordings Dunn held down the bottom end of Respect, Dock Of The Bay and I’ve Been Loving You Too Long, by Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett’s In The Midnight Hour, and Hold On I’m Coming by Sam and Dave, not to mention sessions with Neil Young, Eric Clapton and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Dunn also was in the band featured in film The Blues Brothers.

The most notable song associated with Dunn is Green Onions, which is featured above. Here is a much more recent version. Other clips include Knock on Wood, One Night-Blues for Elvis, Melting Pot and Hold On, I’m Coming. Some of the video isn’t very good–but the music is great.

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