Producer Barry Beckett dies

Thursday, June 11, 2009 – Nashville producer Barry Beckett, who worked with everyone from Bob Dylan to Kenny Chesney, died Wednesday at 65.

Beckett was one of the original 4 owners of The Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama. Along with Jimmy Johnson, David Hood and Roger Hawkins they sold the studio to Malaco Records in the mid 80s. Beckett played on several early Malaco recordings that were recorded at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio.

Beckett gained fame as a keyboardist for the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. He played on hits including the Staple Singers' I'll Take You There and Paul Simon's Kodachrome.

He produced as well, including Mary MacGregor's Torn Between Two Lovers, Alabama's If I Had You, Kenny Chesney's When I Close My Eyes and Bob Dylan (the LPs "Dylan," "Slow Train Coming," "Saved"), and Neal McCoy's No Doubt About It.

In 1985, Beckett left Muscle Shoals, for an A&R position with the Nashville branch of Warner. He co-produced Hank Williams Jr.'s "Mind Your Own Business" and "Born to Boogie" and won a CMA award for Williams' There's a Tear in My Beer.

Other Beckett-associated releases were Glenn Frey's Sexy Girl, the Forester Sisters' You Again, Bob Seger's We've Got Tonight and Fire Lake and the LPs "Night Moves" and "Stranger In Town" and Delbert McClinton's "Giving It Up for Your Love." He also produced Joan Baez, Dire Straits, Joe Cocker, John Prine, McGuinn - Hillman, The Staple Singers, Phoebe Snow, Etta James, T. Graham Brown, Lorrie Morgan, Eddy Raven, Frankie Miller, Jerry Jeff Walker, Confederate Railroad, Phish, Tammy Graham and Sonia Dada.