Biography

Walter Becker (Feb. 20, 1950 - Sept. 03, 2017), was an American musician, songwriter, guitarist, bassist & record producer. In 1971, Walter Becker and his partner Donald Fagen formed the jazz-rock band Steely Dan, creating music that was highly regarded by critics and fellow musicians alike. His partnership with Fagen produced music that sustained a devoted audience for over 40 years, & his solo output enjoyed uncommon critical success. Steely Dan sold more than 40 million albums worldwide & helped define the soundtrack of the '70s with hits such as "Reelin' in the Years," "Rikki Don't Lose That Number," "F.M.," "Peg," "Hey Nineteen," "Deacon Blues," & "Babylon Sisters," culled from seven platinum albums issued between 1972 and 1980 (including 1977's groundbreaking Aja). They reunited in the early '90s, launching over a dozen sold-out tours which continued into 2017. In 2000 they released the multi-Grammy winner (including Album of the Year) Two Against Nature, and followed with the acclaimed Everything Must Go in 2003. They received The ASCAP Founder's Award in 2000 and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Walter's solo releases include 1994's 11 Tracks of Whack, which was featured in Jon Pareles' (New York Times) Top Ten list for the year. Its long-awaited follow-up, Circus Money (2008), became an instant classic among critics and fans. Currently, Becker's Estate is offering free, hi-fidelity downloads of unreleased tracks at walterbeckermedia.com