Biography

Jeff "Skunk" Baxter's extraordinary guitar playing is on multi-platinum albums by Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers (with whom he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), and countless smash hits and albums. Now Skunk gets the opportunity to focus on his own work. Introducing Baxter’s masterful solo disc, Speed of Heat, on BMG/Renew Records. Born in Washington, D.C., he spent much of his childhood in Mexico City. With his mother’s urging, he began studying classical piano at the age of 5, and was exposed to his father’s vast record collection. Still a pre-teen in Mexico, he started playing with local bands eventually going to school in Boston where he joined the Holy Modal Rounders, Tim Buckley and The Ultimate Spinach. In LA Baxter became a founding member of Steely Dan. A number of his memorable solos, most notably on “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” and “My Old School”, would soon enter the lexicon of guitarists everywhere. When Steely Dan stopped touring, Baxter became a Doobie Brother. He recorded several albums with them up to the multi-platinum, Grammy-winning Minute by Minute. It was time to strike out on his own. Baxter’s versatile talents were in demand by music’s crème de la crème – from Barbra Streisand to Donna Summer and Joni Mitchell to name a few. His career as a producer includes albums for Nazareth, Carl Wilson, and a live album for Billy and the Beaters, including the #1 hit single “At This Moment”. And now..."Speed of Heat".