Fred Tackett

Fredrick O. Tackett (born August 30, 1945) is an American songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Originally a session player on guitar, mandolin, and trumpet, he is best known as a member of the band Little Feat.

Fred Tackett
Fred Tackett in 2009
Fred Tackett in 2009
Background information
Birth nameFredrick O. Tackett
Born (1945-08-30) August 30, 1945
OriginLittle Rock, Arkansas
GenresRock, southern rock, blues, Americana, swamp rock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar, mandolin, trumpet, vocals
Years active1972–present
LabelsWarner Bros. Records
CMC International
Tower Records/Hot Tomato Imprint
Antilles Records
Websitepaulandfred.com

In addition to his work with Little Feat, Tackett has played and recorded with many notable artists, Bob Dylan and Jimmy Webb among them. He had an additional side project with another member of Little Feat; he performed as part of a duo with Paul Barrere, as Paul and Fred.

Association with Little Feat

Tackett's association with Little Feat goes back to a friendship with the founder of the band, Lowell George, at the time of its inception. Working as a session player for other musicians, he continued his friendship with the bandmates, and contributed a song "Fool Yourself" to their third album Dixie Chicken as well as acoustic guitar. He also contributed guitar to their sixth album Time Loves a Hero.

In 1979 he co-wrote songs with Lowell George for both George's first (and only) solo project Thanks, I'll Eat It Here, and Little Feat's album Down on the Farm. It was during work on the latter that the group's break-up was announced. Lowell George died shortly afterwards.

In 1983, he performed on the Antilles Records release Swingrass '83.[1]

Joining Little Feat

In 1988 Little Feat reformed despite the absence of their former front man, and prolific singer, songwriter, and slide guitarist, Lowell George. The regrouped Little Feat included former members Paul Barrere, Richie Hayward, Bill Payne, Kenny Gradney, and Sam Clayton, with the addition of Tackett and Craig Fuller. All had been former members of Little Feat, except Fuller and Tackett, who had previously made songwriting contributions and session work for the band. Fuller left in 1993, to be replaced by female vocalist Shaun Murphy who remained with the group until 2009. Tackett has remained with Little Feat since the day he joined, and has become an integral member of the band.

Fred Tackett has played a pivotal role in Little Feat's music. In addition to his guitar work, he plays trumpet and mandolin and has co-written several of their songs, forging an active and regular writing partnership with Paul Barrere which has produced such songs as "Marginal Creatures" and "Night On The Town". The 2003 album Kickin' It at the Barn featured Tackett's debut as a lead vocalist on his own song "In A Town Like This" which was also the title track from his solo debut album released that year.

Paul and Fred
Paul & Fred playing as a duo

Tackett's writing partnership with Barrere has developed into a separate act where the two performed as a duo. This has produced two live albums and a DVD. They have also spent time between gigs when touring to perform in local radio stations, playing songs that do not require a lot of changing of instruments, to travel as lightly as possible.

Discography

As Little Feat session musician

As Little Feat group member

Little Feat Live albums

Little Feat Live compilations
  • Ripe Tomatos Volume One 2002
  • Raw Tomatos Volume One 2002

Paul and Fred

Solo
  • In a Town Like This 2003
  • Silver Strings 2010

Collaborations

With Peter Allen

With Deborah Allen

With Paul Anka

  • The Music Man (United Artists Records, 1977)
  • Headlines (RCA Victor, 1979)

With Joan Baez

With Russ Ballard

  • At the Third Stroke (Epic Records, 1978)

With Carole Bayer Sager

With Clint Black

With Alfie Boe

  • Trust (Decca Records, 2013)

With Debby Boone

With Elkie Brooks

With Jackson Browne

With Glen Campbell

With Eric Carmen

With Valerie Carter

With Cher

  • Stars (Warner Bros. Records, 1975)

With Cher and Gregg Allman

With Rita Coolidge

With Judy Collins

With A. J. Croce

With Patti Dahlstrom

  • Your Place or Mine (20th Century Records, 1975)

With Joe Dassin

With Neil Diamond

With The 5th Dimension

With Bob Dylan

With Fleetwood Mac

  • Time (Warner Bros. Records, 1995)

With Ted Gärdestad

With Lowell George

With Vince Gill

With Arlo Guthrie

  • Power of Love (Warner Bros. Records, 1981)

With Danniebelle Hall

  • This Moment (Light Records, 1975)
  • He Is King (Light Records, 1976)
  • Let Me Have a Dream (Light Records, 1977)

With Steve Harley

With Richard Harris

With Marcia Hines

With Thelma Houston

With Janis Ian

With Rickie Lee Jones

With Christine Lakeland

  • Veranda (Comet Records, 1984)

With Nicolette Larson

With Lori Lieberman

  • A Piece of Time (Capitol Records, 1974)

With Kenny Loggins

With Mary MacGregor

With Barry Manilow

  • Barry (Arista Records, 1980)

With Jeane Manson

  • Stand by Me (CBS Records, 1980)

With Clair Marlo

  • Let it Go (Sheffield Lab, 1989)

With Michael McDonald

With Mephistopheles[2]

With Bette Midler

With Adam Mitchell

  • Redhead in Trouble (Warner Bros. Records, 1979)

With Tim Moore

  • White Shadows (Asylum Records, 1977)

With Anne Murray

With Michael Martin Murphey

With Willie Nelson

With Aaron Neville

  • The Grand Tour (A&M Records, 1993)

With Juice Newton

With Harry Nilsson

With The Oak Ridge Boys

With Van Dyke Parks

  • Jump! (Warner Bros. Records, 1984)

With Van Dyke Parks and Brian Wilson

With Dolly Parton

With Michel Polnareff

  • Michel Polnareff (Atlantic Records, 1975)

With Eddie Rabbitt

With Bonnie Raitt

With Collin Raye

With Helen Reddy

With Johnny Rivers

  • Outside Help (Big Tree Records, 1977)

With Lionel Richie

With Bruce Roberts

  • Bruce Roberts (Elektra Records, 1977)

With Kenny Rogers

With Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton

With Linda Ronstadt

  • We Ran (Elektra Records, 1998)

With Brenda Russell

With Sanne Salomonsen

  • Language of the Heart (Virgin Records, 1994)

With Sanford & Townsend

  • Duo-Glide (Warner Bros. Records, 1977)

With Leo Sayer

With Boz Scaggs

With Bob Seger

With Carly Simon

With Tom Snow

  • Tom Snow (Capitol Records, 1976)

With J. D. Souther

With Ringo Starr

With Rod Stewart

With Barbra Streisand

  • Wet (Columbia Records, 1979)

With Livingston Taylor

With Captain & Tennille

With Richard Thompson

With Tanya Tucker

With Valdy

  • See How the Years Have Gone By (A&M Records, 1975)

With Tom Waits

With The Wallflowers

With Jennifer Warnes

With Jimmy Webb

With Lauren Wood

With Jesse Colin Young

  • The Perfect Stranger (Elektra Records, 1982)

References
  1. Allmusic review
  2. "Mephistopheles (3)". Discogs. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
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