Becker, who has died at the age of 67 from an undisclosed illness, was born in the New York borough of Queens. Seemingly needing a break from the entertainment world, Becker stopped using drugs and became an avocado farmer and cattle rancher, although he still had a small recording studio overlooking the ocean. He just ran out of time much sooner than any of us thought possible.. The album won four Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. They lived on a cattle ranch equipped with a recording studio, where Becker launched a second career as a producer. Walter Becker has a net worth of $5.00 million (Estimated) which he earned from his occupation as musician, songwriter, and record producer. In 2001 they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received honorary doctorates from the Berklee College of Music, which they accepted in person. By Ariel Zilber For Dailymail.com Becker was also married to Delia Cioffi and Juanna Fatouros. For 1975's "Katy Lied," for instance, the act underwent significant lineup shifts and the work was the first to high-light Michael McDonald, who would later go on to fame with the Doobie Brothers, as a vocalist on a Steely Dan album. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google. Walter Carl Becker (February 20, 1950 - September 3, 2017) was an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. ", "Steely Dan changed the way I understand music forever; I started writing songs under the name "the Mountain Goats" the same month 1/2", "Read Rickie Lee Jones' Poignant Tribute to Steely Dan's Walter Becker", "Steely Dan's Donald Fagen on Walter Becker: 'Hysterically Funny, a Great Songwriter', Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz with Steely Dan, Difficult Shapes & Passive Rhythms, Some People Think It's Fun to Entertain, Working with Fire and Steel Possible Pop Songs Volume Two, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Walter_Becker&oldid=1144948744, Short description is different from Wikidata, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Companion media website - www.walterbeckermedia.com, This page was last edited on 16 March 2023, at 12:59. He just ran out of time much sooner than any of us thought possible. He was raised in Queens and Scarsdale, New York by his father and grandmother. Walter Carl Becker (February 20, 1950 September 3, 2017) was an American musician, songwriter, and record producer. Walter Becker with Donald Fagen, right, in 1977. were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, a dildo in William Burroughs 1959 novel Naked Lunch, Becker and Fagen did not reunite until 1993. Pretzel Logic (1974) was the first Steely Dan album to feature Becker on guitar. The tsunami of tributes and remembrances that have followed Walters passing has been deeply moving. Following the groups dissolution, Becker moved to Hawaii and reduced his musical activity, working primarily as a record producer. I am just beginning to emerge from its heartbreaking impact. At the time of his passing on Sept. 3 no details were released about Beckers cause of death. I learned music from a book on piano theory. Steely Dan spent the next three years touring and recording before swearing off touring in 1974, confining themselves to the studio with personnel that changed for every album. Becker and Fagen began collaborating as students at New York's Bard College, writing hits for other artists, including Barbra Streisand's 'I Mean to Shine', before the pair moved to California in the early Seventies to form Steely Dan - named after a sex toy in cult classic Naked Lunch, written by William S. Burroughs. He married Elinor, a yoga teacher, with whom he had a son, Kawai; the couple also adopted a daughter, Sayan. On September 3, 2017, Becker died of esophageal cancer at his home in Manhattan, New York City. We want that ongoing flow, that lightness, that forward rush of jazz. He recorded albums by artists including Rickie Lee Jones, Michael Franks and China Crisis. Guitarist, bassist, and co-songwriter Becker was 67 he died . And despite countless lineup changes over the years,Becker and Fagen remained the core of Steely Dan, turning out jazz funk meets rock n roll hits. Steely Dan broke up and Becker retired to a farm in Hawaii, where eventually he built a recording studio of his own. The 50 Worst Decisions in Music History Quitting Bard in 1969 without gaining a degree, Becker moved with Fagen to New York, where they attempted to find employment as musicians. "[10], Becker left the school in 1969 before completing his degree and moved with Fagen to Brooklyn, where the two began to build a career as a songwriting duo. Although Becker- who was suffering from drug addiction - settled out of court, the lawsuit rattled him,Rolling Stone reported. The wife of Donald Fagen, the founder of the band Steely Dan and the creator of such seminal albums as The Nightfly, has been threatened with divorce by his wife, after he allegedly assaulted. Walter Becker was born on February 20, 1950 in Queens, New York City, New York, USA. He was born on February 20, 1950, in Queens, New York, U.S.. New York is a beautiful and populous city located in Queens, New York, U.S. United States of America. Following a brief battle with esophageal cancer, he died on September 3, 2017. Rolling Stone's obituary quotes him this way: "People can sort of listen to (Steely Dan) at whatever level. And nobody respects an editor at smallnot the editor's wife, not his daughters, not his dogs, least of all himself. 'I intend to keep the music we created together alive as long as I can with the Steely Dan band.'. He was diagnosed with the cancer during a routine medical check-up, and died less than four months after it was detected. Understandably, Walter wanted privacy during the course of his illness and he hoped for recovery. Visit Billboard Pro for music business news, Jamie Foxx Remains Hospitalized a Week After Medical Complication, Bad Bunny Team Clarifies Apparent Harry Styles On-Screen Diss During Coachella HeadliningSet, Justin Bieber Sends Supportive Message to Frank Ocean After Divisive Coachella Set: His Artistry Is Simply Unmatched. Steely Dan was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. [16], Despite the success of Aja in 1977, Becker suffered from setbacks during this period, including an addiction to narcotics. In 2000 they released Two Against Nature, their first album of new material in twenty years. Becker left the school in 1969 before completing his degree and moved with Fagen to Brooklyn, where the two began to build a career as a songwriting duo. Fagen paid tribute to his bandmate as 'an excellent guitarist and a great songwriter.'. Two months after Steely Dan guitarist and co-founder Walter Becker's death at 67, on Wednesday his widow Delia Becker released an emotional statement discussing her late husband's health struggles. Chris Mckay/Getty Images. It seemed to have come out of nowhere and had spread with terrifying speed. He was previously married to Juanna Fatouros, Delia Cioffi and Elinor Roberta Meadows. Contestants revealed, Bec and Lleyton Hewitt's three kids are their mini-mes! [6] After starting out on saxophone, he switched to guitar and received instruction in blues technique from neighbor Randy California, who later formed the band Spirit. Fagen's vocals provided a counterpoint to Becker's guitar work. 'He just ran out of time much sooner than any of us thought possible,' she said. I was busy dissolving everything else about myself, Becker said, so it seemed the logical extension.. [28] A year later, Fagen co-produced Becker's debut album 11 Tracks of Whack.[29]. Becker's official site announced the death; no cause. He wanted to be able to return to the stage and once again perform for his fans. Walter chose an intense regimen of chemotherapy at Sloan Kettering though, between the cancers aggressiveness and the overwhelming toxicity resulting from the chemotherapy treatments, Walter died less than four months after the cancer was detected. [26] In 1991, Becker appeared in Fagen's New York Rock and Soul Revue. Donald Fagen Discusses the Loss of Walter Becker and Steely Dan's Future. Soon after, he was hit by a cab in Manhattan while crossing the street and was forced to walk with crutches while recovering. I am just beginning to emerge from its heartbreaking impact.. This was followed by a deal for their band, Steely Dan, named after a dildo in William Burroughs 1959 novel Naked Lunch. Becker released two solo albums, 11 Tracks of Whack (1994) and Circus Money (2008). Now,Beckers widow Delia has issued a statement, saying that the musiciandied in the course of being treated for an extremely aggressive form of esophageal cancer. This benefited their albums, with their most successful LP, Aja (1977), boasting a glittering, widescreen sound that greatly impressed critics. Becker was suffering from "an extremely aggressive form of esophageal cancer". Luckily, he was smart as a whip, an excellent guitarist and a great songwriter. In 1971, Becker and Fagen moved to Los Angeles and formed Steely Dan with guitarists Denny Dias and Jeff Skunk Baxter, drummer Jim Hodder, and vocalist David Palmer. September 22, 2017. The pair reunited in 1993 for Fagen's second solo album, Kamakiriad, and Becker returned to New York. In 1993, Becker produced Fagens album Kamakiriad. 2023 Rolling Stone, LLC. Becker reportedly paid $3,400 for the instrument and it sold for $68,750. In June 1981 he and Fagen went their separate ways. Condolences Donald. RIP Walter. We investigate, Where to watch the coronation of King Charles III in Australia, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark visiting Australia, Aussie celebrities who are strictly no alcohol: From Chrissy Swan to Keith Urban, Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky's best family moments are much more 'normal' than anyone expected, From The Bachelor to babies: Matty J and Laura Byrne's love story is anything but ordinary, Grace Tame confessed she didnt know what love was before meeting fianc Max Heerey. Becker wrote the song "Little Kawai" for his son, and it became the final song on the album 11 Tracks of Whack. He has a pure loving kind heart personality. He just ran out of time much sooner than any of us thought possible. In 1984 Becker married Elinor Roberta Meadows, a yoga teacher, and the couple had two children, including adopted daughter Sayan. Today, months after Beckers death, his wife Delia shared a letter to Steely Dan fans revealing the illness he succumbed to: an extremely aggressive form of esophageal cancer.. He was cynical about human nature, including his own, and hysterically funny.. Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker has died today at the age of 67, his official site announced. Their music slick and catchy, with wry, observational lyrics - was all-pervasive for much of the groups first period of activity, between 1972 and 1981, and the clarity and depth of the albums production has made them popular reference points for studio engineers. All Rights Reserved. Despite the success of Aja in 1977, Becker suffered from setbacks during this period, including an addiction to narcotics. Steely Dan's Walter Becker on stage at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival Indio, Calif., on April 10, 2015. Donald Fagen is suing the estate of Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker over what he claims is an unlawful attempt to wrest control of the group in the wake of . Steely Dan co-founder Walter Becker died on September 3rd due to complications from treatment for advanced stages of esophageal cancer The news was revealed on Thursday by his widow, Delia. The worlds defining voice in music and pop culture: breaking whats new and whats next since 1952. 'Walter had a very rough childhood I'll spare you the details. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission. Becker released two solo albums 11 Tracks of Whack (1994) and Circus Money (2008). [30] In 2003, they released the album Everything Must Go with Becker singing lead vocal on "Slang of Ages". The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time Michael McDonald, later (and more famously) of The Doobie Brothers, was working with Steely Dan in the mid-1970s, as keyboardist and vocalist. 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