RIP Hal Blaine

[Count Machuki]

or so social media would have me believe.

Wow!



obit. from Variety

[Charlie O.]

[Count Machuki]

https://mobile.twitter.com/halblaine/st ... gr%5Etweet

[Charlie O.]

It's on Wiki, too.

90 years old.

[Muskrat]

It’s on his Facebook page, too.

[fange]

RIP Hal, and thank you. What a life of music.

[fange]

https://www.musicradar.com/news/drums/t ... ime-450846

The Wrecking Crew's Hal Blaine: "My 11 greatest recordings of all time."

[GoogaMooga]

Ah, that hurts, that really makes me very sad, even if 90 is a long life. Hal drummed on more gold records than any other drummer in history. The Beach Boys owe him a lot. I am going to find out if Brian has come forward with a statement. I even have some solo Blaine on CD, but I must confess I sold one of them, after a listen. Contained very lttle music, just Blaine telling some of his favorite jokes. Nothing wrong with a record like that, but it's the kind of thing I am only likely to play once. If there is a heaven, Hal is sure to be there now, telling his jokes, interspersed with some neat drum fills. RIP to a master, Hal Blaine.

[Matt Wilson]

A god. I met him once at a Beach Boys convention in San Diego in the early '90s. Bought his book and he signed it. What googa said is true, he played on more top ten hits that any other drummer. I once won something (I forget what it was) from Rhino Records when I stumped Dr. Rhino by asking him how many top ten songs Hal played on. I just counted them all up (they're listed in the book) and offered the answer. Don't even know if the number I gave him was accurate or not.

[Muskrat]

[Muskrat]

I am going to find out if Brian has come forward with a statement.

I’m so sad, I don’t know what to say. Hal Blaine was such a great musician and friend that I can’t put it into words. Hal taught me a lot, and he had so much to do with our success - he was the greatest drummer ever. We also laughed an awful lot. Hal, we love you and our memories will last forever. Love, Brian

[GoogaMooga]

And Ronnie Spector:

25 Months ago Hal Blaine and I made music for the last time together at the NAMM Convention. Today I regrettably have to say goodbye to Hal, and thank him for the magic he put on all our Ronettes recordings... and so many others throughout his incredible career. Thank you Hal. Love forever, Ronnie xxx

[ChrisB]

What a drummer,what a legacy,and,from what I've seen from interviews, what a gentleman. Thank you, Hal, for playing on some of the greatest music ever made.

[never/ever]

I am still to watch the Wrecking Crew-doco, going to make that a priority this weekend


RIP

[50 Shades Of Blue]

Another of the pillars of my music collection knocked out.
A life well lived.

[Rayge]

Everyone here should already know what I think of Hal, the people he played with and for, and the records he played on. (Incidentally, his record of playing on 40 US number ones was eclipsed in the UK charts by Clem Cattini, who drummed on 41.) Even if he had only done the intro to Be My Baby, he would be up with the immortals (he later confessed that he originally intended to smack the 2 and 4, but dropped one of his sticks)

What some of you may not know, though, is that his life could easily have ended in 1944, when he was caught up in this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartford_circus_fire . so thanks to whoever for the extra 75 years.
RIP Mr Belsky

[Jumper K]

An absolute Titan. I watched Steve White’s drumming documentary and Hal was obviously featured. What a man! What stories! A life magnificently lived. I salute you.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

Everyone here should already know what I think of Hal, the people he played with and for, and the records he played on. (Incidentally, his record of playing on 40 US number ones was eclipsed in the UK charts by Clem Cattini, who drummed on 41.) Even if he had only done the intro to Be My Baby, he would be up with the immortals (he later confessed that he originally intended to smack the 2 and 4, but dropped one of his sticks)

What some of you may not know, though, is that his life could easily have ended in 1944, when he was caught up in this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hartford_circus_fire . so thanks to whoever for the extra 75 years.
RIP Mr Belsky

Great factoid on the fire

[bobzilla77]

He was a fantastic player and a true gent. I used to see him at a coffee shop in Northridge CA that I frequented, and introduced myself one day. He was lovely.

A friend of mine posted a nice story about him. My friend had to give a speech at his father's funeral when he was fairly young, I think early 20s. Hal was the first person to come up to him and say "hey, I don't know you and didn't know your dad, I'm here with a friend of mine. But I could tell from your speech how much you loved him and he would be proud of you for giving him such a nice sendoff." That made me choke up a little.