BARRY BECKETT

Instruments: Keyboards, Producer, Studio Owner
Date of Birth: February 4, 1943
Place of Birth: Birmingham, Alabama

1987
Music
Creator's
Award

1995
Induction
Alabama
Music
Hall of Fame

(both as
member of
MSRS)

Walk of Fame

Star

1995 Inductee

A native of Birmingham, Barry Beckett's earliest professional performances were as pianist for a dancing school.

His journey to Muscle Shoals included a stop in Pensacola, Fl. where he was hired to play a session in Muscle Shoals. The session, on James and Bobby Purify was at Fame Recording Studio. He was soon asked to move to Muscle Shoals to fill the keyboard slot vacated by Spooner Oldham.

Beckett moved on to Muscle Shoals Sound when it was formed. His first production with Roger Hawkins created the Mel and Tim classic "Starting All Over Again". Working with the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, he arranged and co-produced acts such as Paul Simon and Bob Seger.

Later co-producing with Jerry Wexler, Beckett produced the Bob Dylan's "Slow Train Coming". His production credits include Joan Baez, Dire Straits, Joe Cocker, John Prine, McGuinn-Hillman, The Staple Singers, Phoebe Snow, Etta James, T. Graham Brown, Lorrie Morgan, Eddie Raven, Delbert McClinton, Frankie Miller, Jerry Jeff Walker, Alabama, Hank Williams, Jr., Neal McCoy, Confederate Railroad, Phish, Tammy Graham, Sonia Dada and many more.

In 1985 he moved to Nashville where he worked for a time with the A&R department of Warner Brothers Records. He currently operates an independent production company and is a partner in BTM Records.