Re: The Official Neil Young Thread
BEN KEITH , longtime Neil Young Sideman and Pedal Steel Guitarist, Passes Away...
Ben Keith, a longtime sideman for
Neil Young, died earlier this month, according to Undercover.com.au. While the actual date and cause of death are still unknown, Keith was a revered session musician and producer who played
pedal steel guitar on Young's classic album
'Harvest.' He was 73.
Keith got his start as a session musician in the late
1950s, playing
on Patsy Cline's 'I Fall to Pieces.' He met and befriended Young when they both appeared on
'The Johnny Cash Show' and was recruited in 1971 for
'Harvest.' Keith continued to tour and record with the singer on albums as recently as 2009's 'Fork in the Road.'
In addition to his steady work with Young, the acclaimed pedal steel guitarist played in sessions for artists like
Ringo Starr, Todd Rundgren, Warren Zevon, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, among others. As a producer, he produced
Jewel's debut album 'Pieces of You,' which also featured Young collaborators Spooner Oldham and Tim Drummond. Keith was also a member of the Pegi Young Band and had reportedly been producing a second volume of songs for
Jerry Lee Lewis' 'Last Man Standing.'
Ben Keith, Longtime Neil Young Sideman and Pedal Steel Guitarist, Dead at 73 - Spinner