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Sunday, September 3, 2017

Walter Becker dead at 67

Walter Carl Becker
February 20, 1950 - September 3, 2017


Walter Becker, musician and co-founder of Steely Dan, died today. Becker's death was announced on his official website. Becker was 67. At this time, the cause of death is unknown. 

Becker was born in Queens, New York. Having graduated from high school in 1967, Becker pursued a career in music. Originally starting on saxophone, he switched to guitar and was shown by fellow musician and future Spirit guitarist Randy California how to play the blues. While attending Bard College in Annadale-on-Hudson, New York, Becker met musician Donald Fagen. Together, Becker and Fagen were in several groups before finally forming Steely Dan around 1971. From 1972 to 1981, Steely Dan became one of the most commercially successful bands of all time. Their combination of rock and jazz music made them stand out compared to their peers. The band would have hits with "Reelin' in the Years," "Do It Again," "Dirty Work," "Rikki Don't Lose That Number" and "Hey Nineteen." The band broke up in 1981 but Fagen and Becker would reunite in 1993 and release another two studio albums in 2000 and 2003. Becker also managed to release two solo albums,  11 Tracks of Wack in 1994 and Circus Money in 2008.

Becker is survived by his wife and two children.