b. Fort Riley, Kansas, March 6, 1937; d. July 26, 2010
Nashville Cat
Ben Keith was a prominent Nashville pedal steel guitarist and dobro specialist before becoming a producer and instrumentalist for Neil Young. Keith first recorded with Young on the landmark album Harvest in 1971. He would record and tour with Young for the rest of his life; Keith was living at Young’s California ranch at the time of his death, at age seventy-three. The steel guitarist also played the role of Grandpa Green in the feature film Greendale, written and directed by Young.
Keith was featured on the 1972 Neil Young album, Harvest
Fringed leather jacket with Neil Young’s broken arrow logo on the back, made by Tony Alamo of Nashville and worn by Ben Keith. Courtesy of Heidi Denning
Keith was featured on the 1972 Neil Young album, Harvest
Fringed leather jacket with Neil Young’s broken arrow logo on the back, made by Tony Alamo of Nashville and worn by Ben Keith. Courtesy of Heidi Denning
Keith was born in Kansas and later moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky. He toured with Faron Young for several years and played on Patsy Cline’s hit “I Fall to Pieces.” He also recorded with country stars Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and the Trio (Harris, Dolly Parton, and Linda Ronstadt).
Keith also worked extensively with rock musicians, including Ringo Starr, Tracy Nelson, Todd Rundgren, the Band, Paul Butterfield, and Crosby, Stills, and Nash.
Along with co-producing several Young albums, Keith did production work on albums by Bobby Charles, Billy Cox, and Otis Williams, and on Jewel’s multi-million-selling album Pieces of You.
Metal road case used heavily by Ben Keith. Courtesy of Heidi Denning. Photo by Bob Delevante
Metal road case used heavily by Ben Keith. Courtesy of Heidi Denning. Photo by Bob Delevante
Neil Young (left) and Ben Keith collaborated on numerous albums and tours for nearly forty years.
Listen to Ben Keith
Selected Songs
Neil Young, “Old Man” (Neil Young)
The musicians featured on this recording are Ben Keith, pedal steel guitar; Neil Young, acoustic guitar; Andy McMahon, piano; James Taylor, banjo-guitar and backing vocal; Tim Drummond, bass; Kenny Buttrey, drums; Linda Ronstadt, backing vocal.
From the album Harvest, 1972. Produced by Elliot Mazer and Neil Young at Quadrafonic Sound Studios, Nashville.
Neil Young, “Out on the Weekend” (Neil Young)
Among the musicians featured on this recording are Ben Keith, pedal steel guitar; Neil Young, harmonica; Tim Drummond, bass; Kenny Buttrey, drums.
From the album Harvest, 1972. Produced by Elliot Mazer and Neil Young at Quadrafonic Sound Studios, Nashville.
Mother Earth, “Wait, Wait, Wait” (Allen Toussaint)
Among the musicians featured on this recording are Ben Keith, dobro; Johnny Gimble, fiddle; Shorty Lavender, fiddle; Larry Butler, piano; Jack Drake, bass; D.J. Fontana, drums.
From the album Make a Joyful Noise, 1968. Produced by Travis Rivers and Tracy Nelson, Nashville.
Steve Goodman, “You Never Even Call Me by My Name” (Steve Goodman)
Among the musicians featured on this recording are Ben Keith, dobro; David Briggs, piano; Donnie Fritts, organ; Charlie McCoy, harmonica; Norbert Putnam, bass; Kenny Buttrey, drums.
From the album Steve Goodman, 1971. Produced by Kris Kristofferson and Norbert Putnam at Quadrafonic Sound Studios, Nashville.
Patsy Cline, “I Fall to Pieces” (Hank Cochran, Harlan Howard)
The musicians featured on this recording are Ben Keith, pedal steel guitar; Hank Garland, electric guitar; Randy Hughes, acoustic guitar; Pig Robbins, piano; Harold Bradley, six-string electric bass; Bob Moore, acoustic bass; Doug Kirkham, drums; the Jordanaires, backing vocals.
From the album Patsy Cline Showcase, 1961. Produced by Owen Bradley at Bradley Film & Recording Studio, Nashville.
Anne Murray, “Danny’s Song” (Kenny Loggins)
Among the musicians featured on this recording are Ben Keith, pedal steel guitar; Brian Ahern, guitar; Pat Riccio, keyboards; Brently Titcomb, harmonica; Skip Beckwith, bass; Andy Cree, drums.
From the album Danny’s Song, 1973. Produced by Brian Ahern, Toronto.
Meet the Cats
Best known for his harmonica technique—distinguished by speed, clarity, and exceptional phrasing, Charlie McCoy is a multi-instrumentalist who has been recorded on bass, guitar, keyboards, percussion, saxophone, trumpet, and tuba.
Charlie Daniels proved pivotal to many of the Nashville recording sessions of Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan. Because Daniels had a strong blues influence, Johnston felt he would fit with the adventurous singer-songwriters.
Ben Keith was a prominent Nashville pedal steel guitarist and dobro specialist before becoming a producer and instrumentalist for Neil Young.
One of country music’s most admired and influential steel guitarists, Weldon Myrick taught himself to play lap steel and, at age thirteen, landed a job on a radio station near his hometown of Jayton, Texas.
Mac Gayden grew up fascinated by the R&B acts he heard in his hometown of Nashville. That interest helped him develop a style as a guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter distinctly different from other Nashville studio pros.
Lloyd Green developed an emotional, resonant style of pedal steel guitar playing that gave him a distinct sound apart from other top steel specialists.
At age eighteen, Pete Drake heard steel guitarist Jerry Byrd on the Grand Ole Opry during a trip to Nashville. Duly inspired, Drake purchased a steel guitar in an Atlanta pawnshop. The decision not only changed his life, but impacted the sound of country and rock music.
Pig Robbins earned his stripes by creating the rocking piano on George Jones’s “White Lightnin’.” Over the ensuing decades, his integral role on Music Row recording sessions earned him membership in the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012.
In his distinctive fiddle style, Buddy Spicher combined a rich tonal quality with bluegrass precision and an adventurous sense of swing. After arriving in Nashville, he quickly gained attention as a dazzling instrumentalist capable of handling country, jazz, pop, and rock.
Inspired by Country Music Hall of Fame members Chet Atkins and Earl Scruggs, Wayne Moss’s iconic guitar riffs helped forge the identifiable sounds of country and rock hits.
Norbert Putnam is a widely admired bassist, record producer, and studio owner. He started his career in his teens recording with soul singer Arthur Alexander at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, as part of a renowned rhythm section that included keyboardist David Briggs and drummer Jerry Carrigan.
Grady Martin was a member of a loose collection of legendary studio musicians known as the Nashville A-team. His versatility and creativity as a guitarist also appealed to younger rockers and singer-songwriters who came to Nashville.
David Briggs began playing piano on R&B, pop, and country hits in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, in his teens. After a brief stint as a pop singer, Briggs moved to Nashville in 1964 to focus on a career as a studio musician.
Three-time Grammy winner Jerry Reed is most famous for his colorful, catchy story songs steeped in Southern attitude and lore. He was recognized as a groundbreaking guitarist with a guitar technique that gave an extra layer of funky, back-country grease.
The preferred drummer for artists across America—he built a lasting legacy with his work in R&B and rock.
Fred Carter Jr. began his career in northeastern Louisiana playing rock & roll. He backed Dale Hawkins, known for his rock hit “Susie-Q,” and later played with Ronnie Hawkins, Dale’s cousin, in his backing group, the Hawks. Carter left and was replaced by Robbie Robertson before the group evolved into the Band.