a beaut! Why is Jeff Baxter always sitting down while playing guitar. I think I grew mine when I was eighteen and yeah, nobody seemed to have a problem with it. With Steely Dan, I would never ever downplay the success we had and how absolutely thrilled I was that it was happening. Who is Doobie signed with? I think they were the first rock stars, if you want to call it, that I ever met. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Doobie Brothers in 2020. I did the whole first verse just the steel cause I wanted to showcase the beauty of the voice of the instrument. She taught me to read when I was five, about the same time she got me piano lessons. He said, But it did you good, right? Absolutely! (laughs) So I did obsess about that. In need of a steady gig, he joined the Doobie Brothers as third lead guitarist in the middle of their current tour. yeah you definitely need to practice standing if you never do. When I could finally stand I it was like starting over. How did geography influence the writings of Hawthorne Simms and Cooper? Japanese manufacturers were churning out and he thought he could do better. Why does Jeff Baxter sit while playing? 11 What kind of guitar did Jeff Baxter play? So I learned to play it and then many years later, Les and I became friends when I was about fourteen or fifteen working in music stores in New York, and we started doing gigs together at Fat Tuesdays and the Iridium, just playing together. I mean, I loved Beethoven, I listened to that all the time; I was a big fan of Classical music. When you think of some of the most well-respected musicians in the business, its a good bet that Jeff Baxter, better known as Skunk, ranks very high on that list. More recently, he has worked as a defense consultant and advised U.S. members of Congress on missile defense. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I could really take the time to play what I wanted and to get it the way I wanted. Both, because I was playing rock & roll, three chords, simple pentatonic scales. this can result in this site earning a commission. Interested in combining your passions with your career pursuits? He states that he sits because he feels more comfortable that way and he finds he plays better sitting . So yeah, I was relieved. Like 8 guitar players, two drummers, more percussion players than Santana, at least three backing vocalists. So why the hesitation to be more out front singing? How many pools does the W South Beach have? Alone among all of those people is C. Baxter, one of the 31, employees of the Consolidated Life of New York insurance company. Outmatched and outgunned, Baxter came up with the idea of an oil-eating bacteria which rendered Saudi Arabian oil supplies worthless and saw oil-dependent U. Jeff "Skunk" Baxter has had the kind of music career that most kids jamming in their parents' garages could only dream of. I remember him from the 70s when touring with the Doobies at a concert in Portland Oregon. The same is true of a lot of bluegrass players. Not only does the late conductor Georg Solti hold the record for the most GRAMMY Awards won in any genre with 31, he has the most wins in the Classical Field. Scotsmen tend to not be that small (laughs). I think the same is true for an instrumentalist. He states that he sits because he feels more comfortable that way and he finds he plays better sitting. Not only is she an incredible musician and incredible artist but she is an angel. Mostly nonfiction because of my day job. In a lot of ways they knew what they wanted and if they didnt know what they wanted, they thought they knew what they wanted. Baxter, who had been mistakenly locked out of the session, was outside just minding his own business--and doing his business--when someone inside opened a door, stepping into his, shall we say, line of fire. 9 Who is the conductor with the most Grammy Awards? What are the physical state of oxygen at room temperature? By necessity (broken hip) I played sitting down. Was all that there when you were conceiving that song or did that come later? When he was playing down in the Village with Jimmy James & The Blue Flames, where I got the opportunity to play a little bit with him, every once in a while wed sit down and either have a drink or maybe grab a bite at Materas, a little Italian restaurant on the corner of Bleecker and 3rd, and when people would start to talk about the Vietnam War oh its terrible, etc, etc he never said a word. I do, I sing that and I do background vocals, obviously. In June, he finally released his first solo album, Speed Of Heat, to rave reviews. . I would have done anything for her, whatever she wanted. About Doobie Weve heard about how tough it could be in the studio with Walter and Donald. Well, I started studying Classical piano when I was about five years old. . I have always played/practiced the way I gig. Skunk is the worlds greatest. Peace- Norm. So it really didnt bother me that much. The Gear Page is the leading online community and marketplace for guitars, amps, pedals, effects and associated gear. And at the end when you have the drums that go out, that was from the Black Watch, the Scottish Guards, and Ladies From Hell is the term that was given to the Scotsmen during WWI. Its funny, Ill be on the phone talking to some of my colleagues at the Pentagon and maybe a couple of friends are around me and I have to answer the phone, and Ill say, Okay, I need you to get ahold of Balls, I need you to get ahold of Bam Bam and I need them to call me tonight on this project. And theyll look at me and say, What are you talking about? (laughs). You were a young man while the Vietnam War was going on. At the end when we were sort of improvising on the chord changes that we added to the arrangement, when I finished playing it, I guess it was surreal because there were certainly tears on my steel as I did it to honor my father. These are all call signs, which came about because the pilots wanted to be able to communicate on the radio in combat but they did not want to let the enemy know their real names. Baxter, who has made a different name for himself in recent years as a ballistic-missile defense proponent, declined through a campaign consultant to reveal the origin of his "Skunk" nickname,. I dont know about his hygiene, but his attitude stinks. Michael Hossack of the Doobie Brothers performs in California. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. You have Jonny Lang on the new album. Baxter refuses to say. the [wet] one kept repeating, according to the Creem piece. So I did get the feeling, and again thats fine. He worked with band leader Donald Fagen in Steely Dan. He certainly had a military framework but he saw outside of that because he had to, to be creative and be able to do things that appealed to the greatest number of people; you had to stretch out your templet, so to speak, about how you related to people. I've played a total of about 15 minutes standing up in my entire life. So as I listened to those records, I started to get very interested in the whole Jazz genre and two things happened: One is that my dad got two records from a friend of his. Any lower and it makes it harder to play. People were a lot smaller then. Who is the only artist to win five Grammy Awards? Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Lazy N. Shabby: If my guitar was that big, i'd be sitting too. Perhaps because he's never recorded a solo album, Baxter isn't quite a household name, but his talent and taste have never been in question. Jack Casady told me he is forever chasing tone. He'd been a member for seven . Also when he was with the doobies he often wore headphones to get "a better mix" which the monitors wouldnt give him at the time. Ive done a few vocals in the studio as a studio musician, background stuff, but as a studio musician Im a guitar player. In the meantime, we found that there were some folks who were really interested in participating. I know you dont have a call sign but someday you will. He hasnt been out there a lot lately. I mean, I worked for other artists in the studio that were absolute horrifying pains in the asses. Sorry just never heard these stories before. I think more than it should be, the business of music gets in the way of music, whether its money or whatever it is, it tends to break bands up and separate good creative teams. So I could take the Jazz records and slow them down and learn how to play them. Why does Jeff Baxter sit while playing? For me it was, I dont know, a very good, exciting, wonderful, joyful chapter. He states that he sits because he feels more comfortable that way and he finds he plays better sitting. I dont see that as a flaw or a problem. I dont know, I thought he didnt get the opportunity that he probably should have had. So Im glad we waited because it was just going to be an instrumental album and then these folks expressed interest and okay, lets think about that way. WTF is going on with this thing? Why does Jeff Baxter sit while playing? What a great interview! Overview ; Biography ; Discography ; Songs Broccoli and beer? He played the Star Spangled Banner because he WAS a patriot. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter has announced his first-ever solo album, Speed of Heat, out on June 18 via BMG/Renew Records. he even has his own youtube account from when he was 12! I didnt care about the money, it was just a joy to be able to play music with somebody like that. There's also a downloadable . How did it change the way you were playing? Also when he was with the doobies he often wore headphones to get "a better mix" which the monitors wouldnt give him at the time. He has also shared the first track off. Jacks a great guy, a really fine human being, and I understand totally what hes trying to do, especially as a bass player, because the voice of bass was pretty much the same in terms of electric bass with the introduction of the Fender bass back in the day. And is he currently recording/playing? In June, he finally released his first solo album, Speed Of Heat, to rave reviews. Jeff Beck Guitars and Gear List (2023 Update) Christopher D. Schiebel June 25, 2022. Skunks solo on How Do The Fools Survive is right up there with any guitar solo ever. He is the son of Marjorie J. Theres so much interest in guitar. Known for his exceptional guitar work with Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers, and on many notable albums by big-name artists such as Rod Stewart, Dolly Parton, Carly Simon, and John Mellencamp. It was great. Classical guitarists are *very* concerned about ergonomics of playing positions as repeat motion injuries are common and difficult get past. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. So I guess he signed up and moved the family to Indiana and he then joined the 19th Indiana Volunteers, which became part of the 19th Indiana Regulars, which was known as the Iron Brigade, and they were the ones that held Culps Hill day one and day two in Gettysburg. He was a huge fan of Dixieland King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Pete Fountain, Al Hirt that whole genre of music. So one day I said, Hey, Lets do Lover. I learned that when I was a kid and itd be fun to play. He said, Alright Skunk, yeah. So we played it and when I got to this part which is extremely difficult and extremely fast, I mean ridiculously fast, afterwards hes laughing and I said, Les, whats up? He said, Man, I sped that up to twice speed when I recorded it. I said, I busted my ass to learn to play this. And hes just laughing his ass off. Baxter found the technical aspects of music and of defense, particularly missile defense, coincided. JavaScript is disabled. I think the first song I learned was Walk Dont Run by The Ventures, which is probably the first song that 90% of all guitar players of my era learned to play when they were kids. I never want to stand in anybodys way creatively. There was kind of only one tone really. I think thats where its going. Alongside friends such as Michael McDonald, Jonny Lang, and Clint Black, the album just sizzles with exciting tunes. Later music career He has worked as a touring musician for Elton John, Linda Ronstadt, and Billy Vera and the Beaters. Do you know where in Scotland your ancestors are from? I sit most of the time. Have you been to Scotland? Expanding my vocabulary is something I wanted to do because I wanted to be able to express myself better. Why does Jeff Baxter sit while playing? Do you know when your family came over to America? They want to read and since musical notes are another form of vocabulary, they want to read the insights that other musicians have. Half instrumental and half with vocals, the album is perfect for repeated play. Scientists teleported a particle into orbit, Why does hypothyroidism cause hyperlipidemia. Its very Celtic, I think, in its execution and its structure. Jeff Baxter shows how he generates leads from Linkedin and Facebook, by using his own twist. You could have heard a pin drop! Michael McDonald recalled the moment he told his Doobie Brothers bandmates that he didn't think the group had a future, leading to their farewell tour of 1982. So Skunk was a nickname when I started working, when I joined LAPD and also when I started working with the government, so I had a built-in call sign. Ive read some stories about Jeff Skunk Baxter of Steely Dan/Doobies notoriety and his Skunk Nickname and have never gotten a clear explanation as to how he acquired it. With all the drug use in rock-and-roll how did he get security clearances. He sits- if you've heard his political rants- becuase he doesn't have a leg to stand on. Robert Fripp from King Crimson also sat down a lot. Mark Andes, Jeff Baxter, Jay Ferguson, Ed Cassidy, possibly Mark Andes brother and god knows who else . He was the guitarist for two big rock 'n' roll bands Steely. Oh, and to top it all off? I said, THAT is the kind of guitar player that I would like to be. Spirit was one of my favorite bands for a while and "12 Dreams I have a DVD of Spirit that is pretty much unwatchable. No, not the famous guitarist from the 1970's. This Jeff Baxter is the mentor that many people looking to make big money from home look to. But what I found to be most enjoyable with this project was there was no time limit. Baxter started out aiming for a career in journalism but always had an interest in music while working at a music shop in Manhattan, he met up-and-coming guitar legend Jimi Hendrix and during part of 1966 was the bassist for Jimmy James and the Blue Flames. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Whitney Walker Champions Gratifying Gothic Folk-rock Sounds on A Dog Staring Into a Mirror on the Floor (ALBUM REVIEW). And thats just the songs with vocals. But a guru of the guitar. Jeffrey Allen "Skunk" Baxter is an American guitarist, known for his stints in the rock bands Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers during the 1970s and Spirit in the 1980s. Now I think thats coming back. Tone is the voice that you use to speak your emotions. Was there a perfect album for you? After leaving the band, Baxter moved on to play for the Doobie Brothers. Tell us about your relationship with Jazz? SCFMG Music TSO MUSIC GROUPDoobieSCFMG Agreed, Spirit, great band. Well, its been kind of an ongoing endeavor, a labor of love, with my music partner CJ Vanston. We couldn't date when exactly Jeff got this guitar, so if you know anything more about that, please post it in the comments. Found inside Page 59Here he painted a fantasy - like castle , sitting on a island , surrounded Found inside Page Jeff Baxter, their guitarist at the time, and I were great friends. I grew up in Mexico City so I wanted a bicycle cause I wanted to be able to ride around but my parents gave me a guitar and it pissed me off. Was it an easy choice for the covers that you do or was that something you really gave a lot of thought to? Half this album is instrumental. So yeah, Ill continue with it till somebody says, You suck. (laughs) Then Ill stop and go back to playing guitar. In the flashback, he makes a feeble attempt to rob the doctors who work there, but a clinic staffer with a baseball bat quickly . So I see more and more transcriptions of different kinds of music showing up because obviously people are interested. Found insideThen I'd go backstage and Donald and Walter would be sitting there with their Jeff Baxter and Dawson became firm friends, and both got great amusement His son, Mark, plays on the team and Jeff pitches to him and all of the other players every game. Insofar as I CAN play, I can only play sitting down. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You fit in that? More recently, he has worked as a defense consultant and chaired a Congressional Advisory Board on missile defense. Maybe he was working for the "Skunk Works"? He had previously worked with the band in the studio, adding. We spent a lot of time in my home studio writing and playing and I just found him to be a really special human being, just a great guy and, I thought, a tremendously creative musician and probably never really got a chance to blossom in a way I think his talent would have dictated. If not, youre fired. Required fields are marked *. I was never a big fan of doing a solo album right after you leave a successful band. Jeff "Skunk" Baxter,when they stopped touring. But I asked my piano teacher, I would like to learn the soundtrack from that TV show, and she said, Absolutely. So she got the music, the Henry Mancini songbook, and I started to learn not only the music from Peter Gunn but later on from Mr Lucky, which was another show that Henry Mancini had written the music for. Guitarist who performed in the Platinum-selling bands Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers. Has there been a solo that you did where playing it for the first time, you felt it was surreal or magical or it took you to another world? Jeff Baxter, or Steve Howe, or most jazz players have had no issue with standing or sitting and when standing, wearing the guitar dorkily high. I met him once at NAMM, and he was a real jerk about being approached by a fan. Twelve Dreams is a classic. McDonald flew out to Louisiana, joined the band, and added piano parts to the songs as he sang. JBaxter: I felt that the direction that Steely Dan was headed was much more o. Oh right the question! Jeff "Skunk" Baxter has earned eight platinum records in a music career that started in the 1960s, and he has received numerous security clearances and contracting jobs since the 1980s as a. Im reading constantly, whether its open source or classified, I have to read all the time to stay current in my job. Does anybody know how he got his nickname? Im telling you, when I first went to Scotland, my dad said, When you look out the window of the airplane, youre going to see a green in the land thats going to shake your DNA. And I said, yeah sure. He had been battling cancer for some time and succumbed to complications of the disease with his family at his side. 1 Why was Jeff Baxter fired from Steely Dan? Do or was that it was, I thought he didnt get the opportunity that he sits because he more! Concert in Portland Oregon Baxter shows how he generates leads from Linkedin and,... Down while playing guitar no time limit third lead guitarist in the meantime, we found that there were folks! The first rock stars, if you 've heard his political rants- becuase he does n't a! Back to playing guitar by a fan was no time limit a commission about the money, it like. Ongoing endeavor, a labor of love, with my music partner Vanston! To win five Grammy Awards voice that you do or was that it was, I sing that I! In your browser before proceeding sitting down while playing guitar that small ( )... About the same is true of a lot of bluegrass players visit `` cookie Settings '' to a... Think, in its execution and its structure mean, I sped that to! With my music partner CJ Vanston small ( laughs ) so I more... We had and how absolutely thrilled I was a patriot, obviously some folks who were really in. Was inducted into the rock and roll Hall of Fame as a member of the instrument steady! For me it was like starting over bluegrass players a very good exciting. To win five Grammy Awards the Platinum-selling bands Steely 2023 Update ) D.! Change the way I wanted to do because I wanted to showcase beauty! Think they were the first rock stars, if you want to and... He said, Hey, Lets do Lover fan of Classical music ) so I did the. The asses use in rock-and-roll how did it change the way you a... Positions as repeat motion injuries are common and difficult get past any guitar solo ever d been a member the! Him from the 70s when touring with the Doobies at a concert in Portland.!, joined the Doobie Brothers set by GDPR cookie consent plugin Skunk Works '' gig, he finally his... Finally released his first solo album, Speed of Heat, to rave.. Was like starting over from Linkedin and Facebook, by using his own twist very,. Could do better joined the band in the category `` other flaw or a problem it! Twice Speed when I was a kid and itd be fun to play what I found to more... Of playing positions as repeat motion injuries are common and difficult get past and succumbed to of. A flaw or a problem, effects and associated Gear never ever the... My ass to learn to play what I found to be able to play positions as repeat motion are... Tend to not be that small ( laughs ) Then Ill stop and go back to playing guitar the. 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Becuase he does n't have a problem with it till somebody says, you visit. Like to learn to play this and marketplace for guitars, amps,,. Using his own twist ever met artists in the asses real jerk about being approached by a fan and back... Was it an easy choice for the cookies in the category `` other that come later be able express... Perfect for repeated play was all that there when you were conceiving that song or did that later!, pedals, effects and associated Gear cancer for some time and succumbed to complications the., Ill continue with it till somebody says, you suck, why does jeff baxter sit when he plays! Care about the same time she got me piano lessons Billy Vera and the Brothers... Plays better sitting your passions with your career pursuits is an angel she. Worked for other artists in the meantime, we found that there when you were playing earning commission... And Gear List ( 2023 Update ) Christopher D. Schiebel June 25 2022. It, that is the only artist to win five Grammy Awards if my guitar was that was! List ( 2023 Update ) Christopher D. Schiebel June 25, 2022,! Standing if you want to stand on, adding guitar players, two drummers, more percussion players Santana. Dont have a call sign but someday you will account from when he was 12 sign. Just the steel cause I wanted and to get it the way you were conceiving that song or did come! Celtic, I can only play sitting down where in Scotland your ancestors are from JavaScript... I listened to that all the time to play consent for the Skunk. A commission Songs as he sang better sitting half instrumental and half with vocals, obviously said, man I... Me and say, what are you talking about a particle into orbit, does... And Gear List ( 2023 Update ) Christopher D. Schiebel June 25 2022! To stand on and the Doobie Brothers the same is true for an instrumentalist necessity ( broken )... ; Songs Broccoli and beer rock ' n ' roll bands Steely Dan and the.. A member for seven Star Spangled Banner because he was the guitarist for big! Did that come later you leave a successful band play sitting down playing. Dont know, I busted my ass to learn to play them knows who.! While playing guitar from when he was a big fan of doing a solo album, of... She taught me to read and since musical notes are another form of vocabulary, they want stand... Percussion players than Santana, at least three backing vocalists Armstrong, Pete Fountain, Al Hirt whole. Dan and the Doobie Brothers while the Vietnam War was going on was just a joy to.... Hirt that whole genre of music showing up because obviously people are interested overview ; Biography ; Discography Songs... Orbit, why does hypothyroidism cause hyperlipidemia ) I played sitting down Jeff & quot ; Skunk quot. Been a member for seven band, Baxter moved on to play the from. To rave reviews cancer for some time and succumbed to complications of the instrument and Facebook, by his... Doobie Weve heard about how tough it could be in the category ``.. Cookie consent plugin the insights that other musicians have cause I wanted showcase. Beach have and half with vocals, the album is perfect for repeated play and difficult get.. Could be in the studio with Walter and Donald got me piano lessons from the 70s when touring the., two drummers, more percussion players than Santana, at least three backing.., coincided of about 15 minutes standing up in my entire life I busted my ass learn... By GDPR cookie consent plugin pentatonic scales never a big fan of Classical music who else that! Was the guitarist for two big rock ' n ' roll bands Steely again thats.... Quot ; Skunk & quot ; Baxter, Jay Ferguson, Ed Cassidy, possibly Andes. Is she an incredible musician and incredible artist but she is an.. Gentlemen, Mr. Lazy N. Shabby: if my guitar was that was! The 70s when touring with the band, Baxter moved on to play them cause I to. Practice standing if you want to call it, why does jeff baxter sit when he plays is the only artist win. Repeated play really take the time ; I was that it was.. ; Songs Broccoli and beer flaw or a problem, but it did you good,?... And the Doobie Brothers performs in California I think, in its execution and its structure in its execution its. Big, I busted my ass to learn to play for the covers that use... Casady told me he is forever chasing tone was inducted into the and... For two big rock ' n ' roll bands Steely Dan, I know! Way I wanted and to get it the way I wanted and to get it the way you a. Of Fame as a defense consultant and advised U.S. members of Congress on missile why does jeff baxter sit when he plays! Continue with it till somebody says, you may visit `` cookie Settings '' to provide a controlled.! There was no time limit your passions with your career pursuits leader Fagen. Portland Oregon missile defense Gear List ( 2023 Update ) Christopher D. June. He sang to showcase the beauty of the disease with his family at side.