Donald “Duck” Dunn, bassist for Booker T. & the MGs, died in his sleep while on tour in Tokyo, Japan, on May 13, 2012.
Booker T. & the MGs was the house band for Stax and Volt Records, backing soul stars including Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding and Sam & Dave. Booker T. & the MGs recorded 10 albums of their own and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.
Dunn was also a session musician, recording with Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, The Blues Brothers, Muddy Waters, Levon Helm, Tom Petty and numerous others.
Bandmate Steve Cropper, who was on tour with Dunn, posted the following on his Facebook page:
Today I lost my best friend, the World has lost the best guy and bass player to ever live. Duck Dunn died in his sleep Sunday morning May 13 in Tokyo Japan after finishing 2 shows at the Blue Note Night Club.
This article appears in May 8-14, 2012.
