Walter Becker

Walter Becker

Walter Becker

Musician, songwriter
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Walter Becker

Musician, songwriter

February 20, 1950

Queens, New York

September 3, 2017

Walter Becker was a musician and songwriter best known as the co-founder, guitarist and co-songwriter of jazz rock band Steely Dan. The group is best known for their albums Aja, Katy Lied and Pretzel Logic.

Becker and bandmate Donald Fagen met as students at New York's Bard College, going on to write numerous hit songs during the 1970s, including "Kid Charlemagne," “My Old School," "Rikki Don't Lose that Number," "Deacon Blues" and "Hey Nineteen."

Their music was often featured in films and on television, including episodes of WKRP in Cincinnati, Knight Rider, Baywatch, Chicago Hope, The Sopranos, Ed, Six Feet Under, Nip/Tuck, Cold Case, Ugly Betty, Dancing with the Stars, Parenthood, True Blood, Royal Pains and The Simpsons.

Their music can also be heard in the films Say Anything, Jerry Maguire, Almost Famous, In Good Company, Zodiac and American Hustle.

In 2001, Steely Dan was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Becker died September 3, 2017, in Maui, Hawaii. He was 67.

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