Paul Griffin (musician) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Paul Griffin (August 6, 1937 – June 14, 2000) was an American pianist and session musician who recorded with hundreds of musicians from the 1950s to the 1990s.

Career

Born in Harlem, New York, he began as the touring pianist in the backing band for King Curtis and eventually worked with Bob Dylan, Steely Dan, Don McLean, the Isley Brothers, Van Morrison, the Shirelles, and Dionne Warwick. He may be best known for his colourful and distinctive playing on the Bob Dylan albums Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde on Blonde, and also on Steely Dan's Aja. He is extensively featured playing a virtuoso performance of gospel piano on Don McLean's single, "American Pie" He is credited as co-author of the song "The Fez" on Steely Dan's The Royal Scam.

He was an arranger for The Warriors (1979) and Four Friends (1981) and performed in On Location: Robert Klein at Yale (1982) and on the soundtrack for Blue Sunshine (1976).

He died of a heart attack at his home in New York at the age of 62, suffering from complications of diabetes. He was awaiting a liver transplant at the time of his death.

Recordings

With Bob Dylan

Bringing It All Back Home (Columbia Records, 1965)
Highway 61 Revisited (Columbia Records, 1965)
Blonde on Blonde (Columbia Records, 1966)
Blood on the Tracks (Columbia Records, 1975)

With Dion DiMucci

You're Not Alone (Warner Bros. Records, 1971)

With George Benson

Goodies (Verve, 1968)

With Tom Rush

Tom Rush (Columbia Records, 1970)

With Wilson Pickett

In the Midnight Hour (Atlantic Records, 1965)
It's Harder Now (Rounder Records, 1999)

With Michael Franks

Tiger in the Rain (Warner Bros. Records, 1979)

With John Denver

Rhymes & Reasons (RCA Records, 1969)
Take Me to Tomorrow (RCA Records, 1970)
Whose Garden Was This (RCA Records, 1970)
Aerie (RCA Records, 1971)

With Peter, Paul and Mary

Album 1700 (Warner Bros. Records, 1967)

With Al Kooper

You Never Know Who Your Friends Are (Columbia Records, 1969)

With David Clayton-Thomas

David Clayton-Thomas (Columbia Records, 1972)

With Gloria Loring

...And Now We Come to Distances (Evolution Records, 1970)
Friends & Lovers (Atlantic Records, 1986)

With Melba Moore

Peach Melba (Buddah Records, 1975)

With LaVern Baker

See See Rider (Atlantic Records, 1963)

With Janis Siegel

Experiment in White (Atlantic Records, 1982)

With Solomon Burke

If You Need Me (Atlantic Records, 1963)
King Solomon (Atlantic Records, 1968)
I Wish I Knew (Atlantic Records, 1968)

With Jackie Lomax

Home Is In My Head (Warner Bros. Records, 1971)

With Steely Dan

The Royal Scam (ABC Records, 1976)
Aja (ABC Records, 1977)

With Marlena Shaw

Marlena (Blue Note Records, 1972)

With Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway

Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway (Atlantic Records, 1980)

With John Lennon and Yoko Ono

Milk and Honey (Polydor Records, 1984)

With Don McLean

American Pie (EMI, 1971)

With Carly Simon

Carly Simon (Elektra Records, 1971)

With Roberta Flack

Blue Lights in the Basement (Atlantic Records, 1977)
I'm the One (Atlantic Records, 1982)

With Judy Collins

Judith (Elektra Records, 1975)

With Cheryl Lynn

In Love (Columbia Records, 1979)

With Gloria Gaynor

Gloria Gaynor (Atlantic Records, 1982)

With Stephanie Mills

Movin' in the Right Direction (ABC Records, 1974)

With Donald Fagen

Kamakiriad (Reprise Records, 1993)

With Yoko Ono

It's Alright (I See Rainbows) (Polygram Records, 1982)

With Van Morrison

Blowin' Your Mind! (Bang Records, 1967)

With Paul Simon

There Goes Rhymin' Simon (Columbia Records, 1973)
Songs from The Capeman (Warner Bros. Records, 1997)

With Garland Jeffreys

Garland Jeffreys (Atlantic Records, 1973)
Guts for Love (Epic Records, 1982)
Don't Call Me Buckwheat (BMG, 1991)

With Aretha Franklin

Unforgettable: A Tribute to Dinah Washington (Columbia Records, 1964)
La Diva (Arista Records, 1979)

With Bonnie Raitt

Streetlights (Warner Bros. Records, 1974)

With Laura Nyro

Eli and the Thirteenth Confession (Columbia Records, 1968)

With The Free Design

Kites Are Fun (Project 3 Records, 1967)
You Could Be Born Again (Project 3 Records, 1968)

See also

In Spanish: Paul Griffin (músico) para niños

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