Get to know Donald “Duck” Dunn, the legendary house bass player at Stax Records and a member of Booker T. and the MGs. His impressive credits include recording with Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, and Sam and Dave, as well as sessions with Neil Young, Eric Clapton, and Jerry Lee Lewis.
But that’s not all – Dunn also rocked the Stax sound as part of the infamous Blues Brothers Band, handpicked by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd themselves.
His greatest joy, however, came from creating music with Booker T. and scoring a million seller with their instrumental hit “Green Onions.” They even paid homage to the Beatles’ “Abbey Road” with their own instrumental cover album, “McLemore Avenue,” a nod to the address of Stax Records.
Despite his success, Dunn remained humble, sharing that he struggled to replicate Paul McCartney’s basslines and deeply admired the Beatle’s musical talent.
Learn more about the Stax sound and Dunn’s musical journey, influenced by blues legends like B. B. King and Ray Charles, from humble beginnings with The Royal Spades to the iconic days with Booker T. and the MGs.
One standout session for Dunn was backing Jerry Lee Lewis on his soul-infused album “Southern Roots.”