Donald “Duck” Dunn Archives

Will Lee has been sharing some pretty cool videos lately, like this one of Booker T & The MG’s (with Duck Dunn) performing on Letterman. Will tells the story here.

I love it when Stuart Clayton posts one of his “Giants of Bass” videos. He named this one “Who Dunnit?” which focuses on the style of Duck Dunn.

Chris Hillman’s first two solo albums have been reissued on a new CD called The Asylum Years. The country-rock pioneer started his solo career with 1976’s Slippin’ Away, with Clear Sailin’ following the next year. Though Hillman laid down the low end for the iconic bands The Byrds and The Flying Burrito Brothers, he only played bass on two tracks...

It’s hard to talk about the giants of bass without bringing up Donald “Duck” Dunn. As a session bassist for Stax-Volt, he laid down the groove to hits by Booker T. & the MGs, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, Eddie Floyd, Elvis Presley, Isaac Hayes, and more. Many will also remember him as the bassist for the Blues...

Donald “Duck” Dunn is a legend for a reason. Here’s a great clip of the bassist laying it down with Booker T and the MG’s at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes back in 1989. The group played through many of their hits, including this version of 1971’s “Melting Pot.” Dunn’s rock solid groove lays perfectly in the pocket to...

On this day in 1941, the great Donald “Duck” Dunn was born. And that was a good thing for bass players ever since… he showed us the right way to hold it down. Here’s a video from Duck’s final U.S. performance, just two weeks before he passed away in 2012. The tune is Booker T. & The MG’s “Time is...

For the official launch of our Bass Players to Know series, we’re starting with the man, the legend, the ’fro: Donald “Duck” Dunn. Lets cover some of the need-to-know facts, an examination of his style, and a few key listening examples… So who is Duck Dunn, anyway? Dunn was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee and is best known for...

Here’s a groove that’ll make you feel good. Donald “Duck” Dunn locks in on this jam with Booker T. and the MG’s during a show at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California on January 31, 1970.

2012 had some incredible highlights in the world of bass, but we must also stop to remember the incredible bassists we lost this year. We lost some of our biggest heroes, and while their strings have stopped ringing, their musical legacies will live on. Bob Babbitt (July 16, 2012) Motown bassist and member of the Funk Brothers. Babbitt’s bass lines...

Bass Player Magazine’s annual exhibition Bass Player Live! is set to take place October 20th and 21st at SIR Studios and the Key Club in Los Angeles, California. The event brings guest artists to present clinics and concerts as well as exhibits from bass-centric companies. The highlight of weekend is the presentation of this year’s “Lifetime Achievement Award,” which will...

Since the news of Donald “Duck” Dunn’s passing this morning, I’ve been watching a lot of videos featuring the bass legend. It was hard to pick one to share on this day… so much great music. Here’s Dunn with Booker T & the MG’s performing “Green Onions” live in 1967, during the Stax/Volt Revue Live In Norway show. This concert...

Legendary bassist Donald “Duck” Dunn has died in Tokyo early this morning, following a night of shows at the Tokyo Blue Note. According to reports, Dunn passed away in his sleep. The bassist, who was 70 years old, was a member of Booker T. and the M.G.’s and session bassist for Stax Records. He was also a member of the...