Happy Birthday Scott Joplin, Donald ‘Duck’ Dunn

Scott Joplin
Scott Joplin
Two legends share birthday’s today. Scott Joplin, composer of 1899’s “Maple Leaf Rag,” was born today (November 24, 1868) which had a profound influence on music.

Ragtime music helped lead and contribute to the creation of Jazz.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMAtL7n_-rc[/youtube]

Donald 'Duck' Dunn
Donald 'Duck' Dunn
Donald “Duck” Dunn was also born today (November 24, 1941).

As a member of Rock’n’Roll Hall Of Famers Booker T. & The MGs, Dunn was house bass player at the legendary Soul/R’n’B label, Stax, where his meaty playing helped define one of the most distinctive and enduring sounds in popular music.

Among the timeless recordings Dunn held down the bottom end of, are 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 kept the classic Stax sound alive and kicking as part of The Blues Brothers Band. Originally hand picked by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd – the Jake and Elwood characters in cult film, The Blues Brothers.

“I like to keep things spontaneous,” said Dunn of their live show. “That’s my way of playing. Even though we were playing the same songs every night I like to think I can change it a little bit and use my input or creativity or whatever in any way that makes the band feel better. If I make the band smile, I make everybody smile.”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3wijetbFMs[/youtube]

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