Drummer Hal Blaine, Known for Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Simon & Garfunkel Songs, Dead at 90
Hal Blaine.According to Rolling Stone, the family of legendary studio drummer Hal Blaine, born Harold Simon Belsky, announced his passing at the age of 90 via Facebook post Monday. A consummate studio musician, Blaine provided the backing tracks for dozens of classic hits including the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby” and Simon & Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” A member of the Wrecking Crew, a long-standing group of Los Angeles session musicians working in the 1960s and 1970s, Blaine frequently played for producer Phil Spector and the Beach Boys, performing on the latter’s seminal album Pet Sounds.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, Blaine can also be heard on the Crystals’ “He’s a Rebel,” Barbra Streisand’s “The Way We Were,” and Frank Sinatra’s “Strangers in the Night,” among hundreds of other songs. The drummer on every single Grammy Record of the Year winner between 1966 and 1971, Blaine received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement award in 2018. As his family wrote on Facebook, “May he rest forever on 2 and 4.”
I’m so sad, I don’t know what to say. Hal Blaine was such a great musician and friend that I can’t put it into words. Hal taught me a lot, and he had so much to do with our success - he was the greatest drummer ever. We also laughed an awful lot. Love, Brian pic.twitter.com/vLOX3RIKc6
— Brian Wilson (@BrianWilsonLive) March 11, 2019Here is a tribute to my dear friend and Drummer Man, Hal Blaine. Godspeed, Hal. 💔 https://t.co/3HgAyX2u9V
— Nancy Sinatra (@NancySinatra) March 11, 2019God bless Hal Blaine peace and love to all his family Goodbye Hal an incredible musician. 😎✌️🌟❤️☮️
— #RingoStarr (@ringostarrmusic) March 12, 201925 Months ago Hal Blaine and I made music for the last time together at the NAMM Convention. Today I regrettably have to...
Posted by Ronnie Spector on Monday, March 11, 2019Sources
Rolling Stone Legendary Drummer Hal Blaine Dead at 90ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7t8HLrayrnV6YvK57kWlocmdgaHytscaepZ2Zoq56pb7UpqSeql2drq15waWYoqaVYrGmrcNmmK1laWV7qcDMpQ%3D%3D