Leland Sklar Inducted Into the Musicians Hall of Fame After Decades of Hits
Leland Sklar received a well-deserved honor on April 28th when he was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee. The legendary session bassist was among the dozen new members that also included Michael McDonald, Keith Urban, Dann Huff, and more.
“Throughout his extraordinary career, Sklar has recorded and toured with an unparalleled roster of artists including James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Carole King, Linda Ronstadt, Phil Collins, Toto, The Doors, Suzy Bogguss, and Lyle Lovett,” the Hall of Fame writes. “As a band member, session player, and touring musician, he has appeared on more than 2,000 albums, in addition to contributing to numerous motion picture and television soundtracks.”
The induction ceremony was held at the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts in Nashville. Sklar was honored by producer and music executive Tony Brown before Wendy Moten and Garth Brooks celebrated his career with performances of “Running on Empty,” “Your Smiling Face,” and “How Sweet It Is.”
Sklar reflected on the event with a video on his YouTube Channel.
“I was quite humbled to be part of the induction. It’s the kind of thing I would have never thought about or expected in my career, but this was really quite something,” he said. “I’m still taken aback by all of it.”
Hear his perspective:
Sklar has been a go-to for the music industry for decades for a reason. His lines bring songs to life with energy and creativity, but always from a place of support. He explained his approach to No Treble in our Stories Behind the Songs interview.
“I’ve always been a song guy, and I like to figure out where things work best,” Sklar stated. “In my heart of hearts, I’m a real simple player. I don’t intellectualize [anything.] I don’t think about it; I just live in the moment. I really love moving around the neck, but to me it has to be justified. To me, I’ve always looked at my career as every note I play, I have to justify why I’m there in my mind. It’s easy to throw a part down, but to make a part that takes that song and adds whatever your job is supposed to be to it [is special].”
Congratulations to Leland Sklar!
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
Surprised it took so long.
The man is a musical treasure.