The difference between the life of a session musician in the UK and the US during the 1960s and ’70s is marked. In the UK, the studio scene comprised of individual players who would be invited to play. In the US, on the other hand, session musicians were usually part of a house band linked to a record label or studio, such as The Funk Brothers, The Wrecking Crew or The Swampers.
Either way, the route from hired hand to solo superstar is one that all the 11 musicians on our list have taken – we’ve also provided a classic session track with each one of our selections.
11 rock icons who started as session musicians
11. Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye is one of soul’s great voices, but his first involvement with the Motown label in 1961 was as a session drummer. Gaye played on early classic recordings by The Marvelettes (‘Please Mr Postman’), The Miracles, The Supremes and Little Stevie Wonder.
With his star rising at the Detroit label, he co-wrote and played drums on Martha & The Vandellas’ iconic ‘Dancing In The Street’. Not all that soon after his drum kit was disassembled and his star potential encouraged to come to the fore.
Classic session track: Martha and The Vandellas – 'Dancing In The Street'
10. Elton John
Reg Dwight worked as a pianist-for-hire during the late 1960s. He contributed uncredited piano on The Hollies’ ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother’, as well as backing vocals on Tom Jones’ epic ‘Delilah’.
Dwight also used to play piano and sing on a series of budget albums containing contemporary chart hits called ‘Top Of The Pops’. A name change lead to bigger and better things for Elton.
Classic session track: The Hollies – 'He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother'
9. Bootsy Collins
When William Collins asked his mother why she gave him the memorable nickname, she responded, "because you looked like a Bootsy." At the age of 15 he became a session musician for The Pacemakers, the house band at King Records in Cincinnati.
Collins’ studio gig involved laying down the bass lines for the soul and funk artists on the label, the biggest of which was James Brown. The Pacemakers evolved into Mr Dynamite’s live backing band, The JBs. Bootsy went on to join Parliament-Funkadelic, but also continued to guest as the planet’s go-to space bass session man.
Classic session track: James Brown – 'Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine'
8. Duane Allman
The youngest Allman brother started out as a session musician in Nashville’s legendary RCA Studio B. Dissatisfied with endlessly playing country licks, Allman trekked over to FAME studios in Muscle Shoals seeking out more satisfying session work. He famously pitched a tent and camped out in the parking lot in anticipation of being hired.
The move worked out and Duane played on sessions with Boz Scaggs, Percy Sledge, Laura Nyro, Winston Pickett and Aretha Franklin.
The formation and success of The Allman Brothers meant the Muscle Shoals recording sessions were knocked on the head. This didn’t stop Duane from delivering the guitar solo for ‘Layla’ on Clapton’s side project Derek & The Dominoes.
Classic session track: Wilson Pickett – 'Hey Jude'
7. Rick Wakeman
After dropping out of the prestigious Royal College of Music and giving up on his dream of becoming a concert pianist, Rick Wakeman reinvented himself as an in-demand session musician. He established a fruitful working relationship with David Bowie, providing mellotron on Space Oddity. The connection eventually lead to Wakeman playing a central role in the sessions for Hunky Dory.
Cat Stevens, Elton John and Marc Bolan also appeared on his extensive client list. Wakeman quit session work through burnout and after a brief spell in folk band The Strawbs, finally found his calling playing ostentatious keyboards in progressive rockers, Yes.
Classic session track: David Bowie – 'Life On Mars?'
6. John Paul Jones
From 1964 to 1968 John Paul Jones played on hundreds of recording sessions for Decca Records. Initially he sat in playing bass, but his keyboard and arranging skills ensured he was permanently encamped in the studio. Jones, who had changed his name from plain old John Baldwin during these years, helped out artists such as Cat Stevens, Nico, Dusty Springfield, Lulu, and Shirley Bassey.
The ultra-talented bassist even provided The Rolling Stones with a string arrangement on ‘She’s A Rainbow’. Jones got to know Jimmy Page through the studio circuit and threw his hat in with him to become a Led Zep founding member.
Classic session track: Donovan – 'Mellow Yellow'
5. Steve Lukather
Guitarist Steve Lukather is the lead guitarist and co-founder of radio-friendly rockers Toto. Along with his Toto band mates, he is also a former member of The Wrecking Crew, the legendary LA collective. Lukather, like Leon Russell before him, is one of the most prolific session men in popular music history.
The versatile guitarist is most famous for his work in the studio with Michael Jackson and the Thriller album. Lukather plays the main riff on ‘Beat It’, with Eddie Van Halen providing the solo. Among many, many others, Lukather has provided guitar parts for Olivia Newton-John, Stevie Nicks, Lionel Richie and Warren Zevon.
Classic session track: Michael Jackson – 'Beat It'
4. Glen Campbell
Throughout the 1960s Glen Campbell was a member of The Wrecking Crew, a LA-based collective of top-notch studio musicians who played on hundreds of top 40 hits in the US. Campbell’s technical ability on the guitar lead him to playing for any number of remarkable artists, including The Beach Boys (Pet Sounds), Frank Sinatra (Strangers In The Night) and Elvis Presley (Viva Las Vegas).
Among many other, Campbell also went into the studio with The Monkees, Merle Haggard and Nat King Cole. The guitarist-for-hire eventually crossed the divide and into to a hugely successful solo career.
Classic session track: The Righteous Brothers – 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin''
3. Ry Cooder
The Californian’s trademark ability on the slide guitar, coupled with his mastery of the mandolin, helped Ry Cooder to become a hugely respected an highly sought-after session man. His time spent in the studio with The Rolling Stones was hugely influential in shaping the band’s future sound, and he appears on two of their classic albums, Let It Bleed and Sticky Fingers.
Cooder has also worked on memorable sessions for Randy Newman, Little Feat and Gordon Lightfoot. As a solo artist he released a number of acclaimed albums, and has scored many film soundtracks, including Wim Wenders’ Paris, Texas.
Classic session track: The Rolling Stones – 'Sister Morphine'
2. Leon Russell
Before embarking on an enduring solo career, Leon Russell played on hundreds of hits as an influential member of The Wrecking Crew. A triple threat, Russell was equally sought after for his piano playing, guitar work and arranging skills.
Russell was a vital brick in Phil Spector’s ‘Wall of Sound’ studio outfit, contributing to hits for The Ronettes, as well as Ike & Tina Turner’s monumental ‘River Deep – Mountain High.’ Alongside Glen Campbell, Russell contributed piano on The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds. If you ever have time, track down Russell’s session CV, as it’s a thing of rich wonder.
Classic session track: Ike and Tina Turner – 'River Deep – Mountain High'
1. Jimmy Page
Before joining The Yardbirds and subsequently founding Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page was a prolific and much sought-after session guitarist. He played on innumerable sessions over a five-year period from 1962 to 1966. Early session work saw him play back-up guitar on the debut albums of both The Who and The Kinks - much to the annoyance of both bands.
Page also sat in on sessions for Marianne Faithful, The Nashville Teens, Van Morrison’s Them and even the Rolling Stones on ‘Heart of Stone.’ Led Zep’s founding father reflects fondly on those days, “My session work was invaluable… I learnt things even on my worst sessions – and believe me, I played on some horrendous things.”
Classic session track: Petula Clark – 'Downtown'
All pics Getty Images. Top image Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers holds his Gibson Les Paul electric guitar at Muscle Shoals Studios on September 23, 1969
