Memphis Legend "Duck" Dunn Dies at 70

Bass player and songwriter Donald "Duck" Dunn, a member of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame band Booker T. and the MGs and the Blues Brothers band, has died in Tokyo. He was 70.

 

"Green Onions"   "Time Is Tight"

Dunn was in Tokyo for a series of shows. News of his death was posted on the Facebook page of his friend and fellow musician Steve Cropper, who was on the same tour. Cropper said Dunn died in his sleep.

 

"Today I lost my best friend, the World has lost the best guy and bass player to ever live," Cropper wrote.

 

Miho Harasawa, a spokeswoman for Tokyo Blue Note, the last venue Dunn played, confirmed he died alone early Sunday. She had no further details.

 

Dunn, who was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1941, performed on recordings with Eric Clapton, Neil Young and many others, and specialized in blues, gospel and soul. He played himself in the 1980 hit movie "The Blues Brothers."

 

He received a lifetime achievement Grammy award in 2007 for his work in the MGs, whose instrumental hits include "Green Onions," "Soul Limbo" and "Time Is Tight." The band's biggest contribution to popular music, however, was their role as the house band for Stax Records, performing on hundreds of recordings by the label's artists, including Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Rufus Thomas and Johnnie Taylor.

 

 

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