Iconic drummer Hal Blaine, who rose to fame as a member of the prolific Wrecking Crew, has passed away at the age of 90.
If you have ever found yourself listening to any song released in the last 60 years, there’s a strong chance that you’ve either heard, or heard music influenced by, the great Hal Blaine.
Rising to prominence as a member of the Wrecking Crew, a prolific group of first-call session musicians, Blaine’s percussion work has been heard on a wide variety of classic tracks, ranging from tunes by the likes of The Beach Boys, The Mamas & The Papas, Frank Sinatra, Simon & Garfunkel, The Supremes, and countless more.
A highly-acclaimed musician, Blaine played on eight Grammy Award Record of the Year winners (including six consecutive winners), was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2000, and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.
In fact, Blaine’s legacy was so great that his Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame biography notes that he, “played on more hit records than any drummer in the rock era, including forty Number One singles and one hundred fifty that made the Top Ten.”
Now, as Variety notes, the musical icon has passed away at the age of 90.
In a statement released by his family, it was noted that Hal Blaine passed away on Monday, though no cause of death has been released at the current time.
“May he rest forever on 2 and 4,” his family stated.
Blaine is survived by his daughter Michelle, as well as his seven grandchildren. Likewise, his legacy will undoubtedly live on as well, with countless musicians who either worked with, or were influenced by Hal Blaine set to remember his music for lifetimes to come.
Our thoughts go out to the family, friends, and musical contemporaries of Hal Blaine at this difficult time.
Check out Hal Blaine’s ‘Drums A Go Go’:
