Hugh Carmine McCracken (March 31, 1942 – March 28, 2013) was an American rock guitarist and

session musician A session musician (also known as studio musician or backing musician) is a musician hired to perform in a recording session or a live performance. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a reco ...

based in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, primarily known for his performance on

guitar The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...

and also as a

harmonica The harmonica, also known as a French harp or mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used worldwide in many musical genres, notably in blues, American folk music, classical music, jazz, country, and rock. The many types of harmonica incl ...

player. McCracken was additionally an arranger and record producer.

Biography

Born in

Glen Ridge, New Jersey Glen Ridge is a Borough (New Jersey), borough in Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 7,802, an increase of 275 (+3.7%) from the 2010 United St ...

, McCracken grew up in

Hackensack, New Jersey Hackensack is the most populous municipality in and the county seat of Bergen County, New Jersey, Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.

. Especially in demand in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, McCracken appeared on many recordings by

Steely Dan Steely Dan is an American rock band formed in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, in 1971 by Walter Becker (guitars, bass, backing vocals) and Donald Fagen (keyboards, lead vocals). Originally having a traditional band lineup, Becker and Fagen cho ...

, as well as albums by Donald Fagen,

Jimmy Rushing James Andrew Rushing (August 26, 1901 – June 8, 1972) was an American singer and pianist from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S., best known as the featured vocalist of Count Basie's Orchestra from 1935 to 1948. Rushing was known as " Mr. Five by ...

Billy Joel William Martin Joel (born May 9, 1949) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Piano Man" after his Signature song, signature 1973 song Piano Man (song), of the same name, Joel has ha ...

, Roland Kirk,

Roberta Flack Roberta Cleopatra Flack (February 10, 1937 – February 24, 2025) was an American singer and pianist known for her emotive, genre-blending ballads that spanned R&B, jazz, Folk music, folk, and pop and contributed to the birth of the quiet storm ...

, B. B. King, Hue and Cry,

John Lennon John Winston Ono Lennon (born John Winston Lennon; 9 October 19408 December 1980) was an English singer-songwriter, musician and activist. He gained global fame as the founder, co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. Lennon's ...

Paul McCartney Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained global fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and the piano, and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John ...

the Monkees The Monkees were an American pop rock band formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1960s. The band consisted of Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones (musician), Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork. Spurred by the success of ''The Monkees (TV series), Th ...

Paul Simon Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter known for his solo work and his collaborations with Art Garfunkel. He and Garfunkel, whom he met in elementary school in 1953, came to prominence in the 1960s as Sim ...

Art Garfunkel Arthur Ira Garfunkel (born November 5, 1941) is an American singer, actor and poet who is best known for his partnership with Paul Simon in the folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel. Born in Forest Hills, Queens, New York, Garfunkel became acquainte ...

, Lotti Golden,

Idris Muhammad Idris Muhammad (; born Leo Morris; November 13, 1939 – July 29, 2014) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. He had an extensive career performing jazz, funk, Rhythm and blues, R&B, and Soul music, soul music and recorded with musicians s ...

James Taylor James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A six-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Taylor achieved his breakthrough in 1970 with the single "Fi ...

Phoebe Snow Phoebe Snow (born Phoebe Ann Laub; July 17, 1950 – April 26, 2011) was an American roots music singer-songwriter and guitarist, known for her hit 1974 and 1975 songs "Poetry Man" and "Harpo's Blues", and her credited guest vocals on Paul Simo ...

Bob Dylan Bob Dylan (legally Robert Dylan; born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter. Described as one of the greatest songwriters of all time, Dylan has been a major figure in popular culture over his nearly 70-year ...

Linda McCartney Linda Louise, Lady McCartney ( Eastman; September 24, 1941 – April 17, 1998) was an American photographer, musician, cookbook author, and activist. She was the keyboardist and harmony vocalist in the band Paul McCartney and Wings, Wings tha ...

Carly Simon Carly Elisabeth Simon (born June 25, 1943) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records; her 13 Billboard Hot 100, top 40 U.S. hits include "Anticipation (song), Anticipatio ...

, Graham Parker,

Yoko Ono Yoko Ono (, usually spelled in katakana as ; born February 18, 1933) is a Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter, and peace activist. Her work also encompasses performance art and filmmaking. Ono grew up in Tokyo and moved to New York ...

, Eric Carmen, Loudon Wainwright III,

Lou Donaldson Louis Andrew Donaldson Jr. (November 1, 1926 – November 9, 2024) was an American jazz Alto saxophone, alto saxophonist. He was best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to playing the alto saxophone, although in his formative years he was he ...

Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Honored as the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Queen of Soul", she was twice named by ''Rolling Stone'' magazine as the Roll ...

, Bob James,

Van Morrison Sir George Ivan "Van" Morrison (born 31 August 1945) is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician whose recording career started in the 1960s. Morrison's albums have performed well in the UK and Ireland, with more than 40 reaching the UK ...

, the Four Seasons,

Barbra Streisand Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand ( ; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress, songwriter, producer, and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success across multiple fields of entertainment, being the ...

, Hall & Oates, the Archies, Don McLean,

Hank Crawford Bennie Ross "Hank" Crawford, Jr. (December 21, 1934 – January 29, 2009) was an American alto saxophonist, pianist, arranger and songwriter whose genres ranged from R&B, hard bop, jazz-funk, and soul jazz. Crawford was musical director for ...

, Jerry Jemmott, Gary Wright and

Andy Gibb Andrew Roy Gibb (5 March 1958 – 10 March 1988) was an English singer and songwriter. He was the younger brother of Barry Gibb, Barry, Robin Gibb, Robin, and Maurice Gibb, musicians who had formed the Bee Gees during the late 1950s. Andy G ...

. In the middle 1960s, McCracken played in a North Jersey night club cover band called the Funatics under the stage name of Mack Pierce. The band became Mario & the Funatics for a short time when it merged with saxophonist Mario Madison. He was a member of Mike Mainieri's White Elephant Orchestra (1969–1972), a 20-piece experimental jazz-rock outfit based in New York City. The band was made up of

Steve Gadd Stephen Kendall Gadd (born April 9, 1945) is an American jazz fusion drummer, percussionist, and session musician. Gadd is one of the best-known and most highly regarded session and studio drummers in the industry, recognized by his induction i ...

, Tony Levin, Warren Bernhardt, George Young, Frank Vicari, Michael Brecker, Ronnie Cuber, Jon Faddis, Lew Soloff,

Randy Brecker Randal Edward Brecker (born November 27, 1945) is an American trumpeter, flugelhornist, and composer. His versatility has made him a popular studio musician who has recorded with acts in jazz, rock music, rock, and R&B. Early life Brecker was ...

, Barry Rogers, Jon Pierson, David Spinozza and

Joe Beck Joe Beck (July 29, 1945 – July 22, 2008) was an American jazz guitarist who was active for over 40 years. Biography Born in Philadelphia, Beck moved to Manhattan in his teens, playing six nights a week in a trio setting, which gave him an opp ...

. Among the many albums he performed on was the 1970 recording by writer/critic Robert Palmer's Insect Trust, ''Hoboken Saturday Night'', together with Bernard "Pretty" Purdie and

Elvin Jones Elvin Ray Jones (September 9, 1927 – May 18, 2004) was an American jazz drummer of the post-bop era. Most famously a member of John Coltrane's quartet, with whom he recorded from late 1960 to late 1965, Jones appeared on such albums as ''My Fa ...

. In 1971, because of such high demand for his work, McCracken declined Paul McCartney's invitation to help form his new band, Wings. McCracken also played on, arranged and co-produced with Tommy LiPuma, Dr. John's ''City Lights'' (1978) and ''Tango Palace'' (1979). His most well-known work was the slide guitar solo in " All By Myself" by Eric Carmen, the guitar parts in " Hey Nineteen" by

, and the main guitar playing fills on

classic " Brown-Eyed Girl".

Death

Hugh McCracken died on Thursday March 28, 2013 in Manhattan. He was 70. Holly, his wife of 43 years, said the cause was

leukemia Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia; pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and produce high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or '' ...

Discography

*1967: '' Blowin' Your Mind!'' –

*1967: '' Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina'' –

The Left Banke The Left Banke was an American baroque pop band, formed in New York City in 1965. They are best remembered for their two U.S. hit singles, "Walk Away Renée" and "Pretty Ballerina". The band often used what the Music journalism, music press refer ...

*1968: '' Did She Mention My Name?'' –

Gordon Lightfoot Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jr. (November 17, 1938 – May 1, 2023) was a Canadian singer-songwriter who achieved worldwide success and helped define the singer-songwriter era of the 1970s. Widely considered one of Canada's greatest songwriters, ...

*1968: '' Eli and the Thirteenth Confession'' – Laura Nyro *1968: '' The Circle Game'' – Tom Rush *1968: '' Livin' the Blues'' –

*1969: ''Today'' – Gloria Loring *1969: '' Completely Well'' – B.B. King *1969: '' Everything’s Archie'' – The Archies *1969: '' Motor-Cycle (album)'' – Lotti Golden *1970: ''A Time To Remember!'' – The Artie Kornfeld Tree (ABC/Dunhill Records; Cat. DS 50092) *1970: ''Hoboken Saturday Night'' – The Insect Trust (Atco Records; Cat. SD 33-313) *1970: ''Outlaw'' – Eugene McDaniels (Atlantic; Cat. SD 8259) *1970: ''

Changes Changes may refer to: Books * '' Changes: A Love Story'', 1991 novel by Ama Ata Aidoo * ''Changes'' (The Dresden Files) (2010), the 12th novel in Jim Butcher's ''The Dresden Files'' Series * ''Changes'', a 1983 novel by Danielle Steel * ''Chan ...

'' –

The Monkees The Monkees were an American pop rock band formed in Los Angeles in the mid-1960s. The band consisted of Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones (musician), Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork. Spurred by the success of ''The Monkees (TV series), Th ...

*1970: '' Indianola Mississippi Seeds'' – B.B. King *1971: '' Headless Heroes of the Apocalypse'' – Eugene McDaniels *1971: '' Ram'' –

*1971: '' Mike Corbett & Jay Hirsh (with Hugh McCracken)'' - S/T (Atco Records) *1971: '' Gary Wright'' - Extraction (A&M Records) *1971: ''Flagrant Délit'' –

Johnny Hallyday Jean-Philippe Léo Smet (; 15 June 1943 – 5 December 2017), better known by his stage name Johnny Hallyday, was a French rock and roll and Pop music, pop singer and actor, credited with having brought rock and roll to France. During a career ...

(France; Philips; Cat. 6325 003) *1971: '' Quiet Fire'' –

*1971: '' The Good Book'' – Melanie *1971: '' Barbra Joan Streisand'' –

*1972: '' Album III'' – Loudon Wainwright III *1972: '' Stoneground Words'' – Melanie *1972: '' Sweet Buns & Barbeque'' –

Houston Person Houston Person (born November 10, 1934) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and record producer. Although he has performed in the hard bop and swing music, swing genres, he is most experienced in and best known for his work in soul jazz. He re ...

*1972: '' David Clayton-Thomas'' – David Clayton-Thomas *1972: '' Young, Gifted and Black'' –

*1972: '' Yvonne Elliman'' – Yvonne Elliman *1973: '' Abandoned Luncheonette'' – Daryl Hall & John Oates *1973: '' Sassy Soul Strut'' –

*1973: '' For the Good Times'' - Rusty Bryant *1973: '' From the Depths of My Soul'' – Marlena Shaw *1973: ''Breezy Stories'' – Danny O'Keefe (Atlantic; Cat. SD 7264) *1973: ''Daybreaks'' – John Wonderling (Paramount; Cat. 6063) *1973: '' Extension of a Man'' –

Donny Hathaway Donny Edward Hathaway (October 1, 1945 – January 13, 1979) was an American soul singer, keyboardist, songwriter, backing vocalist, and arranger who ''Rolling Stone'' described as a "soul legend". His most popular songs include " The Ghetto" ...

*1973: ''

Bette Midler Bette Midler ( ;''Inside the Actors Studio'', 2004 born December 1, 1945) is an American actress, comedian, singer, and author. Throughout her five-decade career Midler has received List of awards and nominations received by Bette Midler, numero ...

'' –

*1974: '' Your Baby Is a Lady'' –

Jackie DeShannon Jackie DeShannon (born Sharon Lee Myers; August 21, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter and radio broadcaster who has had many hit song credits beginning in the 1960s, as both a singer and composer. She was one of the first female singer-son ...

*1974: '' With Everything I Feel in Me'' –

*1974: '' Madrugada'' – Melanie *1974: '' Walking Man'' –

*1974: '' Until It's Time for You to Go'' – Rusty Bryant *1974: '' Let Me in Your Life'' –

*1974: ''

One 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number, numeral, and glyph. It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science to sp ...

'' – Bob James *1975: '' Eric Carmen (1975 album)'' - Eric Carmen *1975: ''

Desire Desires are states of mind that are expressed by terms like "wanting", "wishing", "longing" or "craving". A great variety of features is commonly associated with desires. They are seen as propositional attitudes towards conceivable states of affa ...

'' –

*1975: '' Still Crazy After All These Years'' –

*1975: '' Katy Lied'' -

*1975: '' The Case of the 3 Sided Dream in Audio Color'' -

Rahsaan Roland Kirk Rahsaan Roland Kirk (born Ronald Theodore Kirk; August 7, 1935Kernfeld, Barry.Kirk, Roland" ''The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz'', 2nd ed. Ed. Barry Kernfeld. ''Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Grove Music Online''. ''Grove Dictionary of M ...

*1975: '' Feel Like Makin' Love'' –

*1975: '' New York Connection'' – Tom Scott *1975: '' First Cuckoo'' – Deodato *1975: '' Peach Melba'' –

Melba Moore Beatrice Melba Smith (born October 29, 1945) known by her stage name Melba Moore, is an American singer and actress. Biography Early life and education Moore was born Beatrice Melba Smith on October 29, 1945, in New York City to Gertrude Melba ...

*1976: '' Just a Matter of Time'' – Marlena Shaw *1976: '' Yellow & Green'' –

Ron Carter Ronald Levin Carter (born May 4, 1937) is an American jazz double bassist. His appearances on 2,221 recording sessions make him the most-recorded jazz bassist in history. He has won three Grammy Awards, and is also a Cello, cellist who has reco ...

*1976: '' Second Childhood'' –

*1976: '' Everything Must Change'' –

Randy Crawford Veronica "Randy" Crawford (born February 18, 1952) is an American retired jazz and R&B singer. She has been more successful in Europe than in the United States, where she has not entered the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 as a solo artist. However, sh ...

*1976: ''

Pastels A pastel () is an art medium that consists of powdered pigment and a binder (material), binder. It can exist in a variety of forms, including a stick, a square, a pebble, and a pan of color, among other forms. The pigments used in pastels are ...

'' –

*1976: ''

Smile A smile is a facial expression formed primarily by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. Some smiles include a contraction of the muscles at the corner of the eyes, an action known as a Duchenne smile. Among humans, a smile expresses d ...

'' – Laura Nyro *1976: '' Three'' – Bob James *1977: '' Havana Candy'' – Patti Austin *1977: '' The Stranger'' –

*1977: '' Blue Lights in the Basement'' –

*1977: '' A Song'' –

Neil Sedaka Neil Sedaka (; born March 13, 1939) is an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Since his music career began in 1957, he has sold millions of records worldwide and has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and other artists, collabo ...

*1977: '' Never Letting Go'' –

*1977: '' Celebrate Me Home'' –

Kenny Loggins Kenneth Clark "Kenny" Loggins (born January 7, 1948) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His early songs were recorded with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1970, which led to seven albums recorded with Jim Messina (musician), Jim Mess ...

*1977: ''

Watermark A watermark is an identifying image or pattern in paper that appears as various shades of lightness/darkness when viewed by transmitted light (or when viewed by reflected light, atop a dark background), caused by thickness or density variations i ...

'' –

*1977: '' Blow It Out'' – Tom Scott *1977: '' Ghost Writer'' – Garland Jeffreys *1978: '' Pick 'Em'' –

*1978: '' 52nd Street'' –

*1978: ''

'' –

*1978: '' Boys in the Trees'' –

*1978: '' City Lights'' – Dr. John (US; Horizon Records & Tapes; SP 732) *1978: ''Intimate Strangers'' – Tom Scott *1978: '' One-Eyed Jack'' – Garland Jeffreys *1979: '' Tango Palace'' – Dr. John (US; Horizon Records & Tapes; SP 740) *1979: '' Headin' Home'' – Gary Wright *1979: '' Fate for Breakfast'' –

*1979: '' Street Beat'' – Tom Scott *1980: '' After Dark'' –

*1980: '' Double Fantasy'' –

and

*1980: '' Naughty'' –

Chaka Khan Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known by her stage name Chaka Khan ( ), is an American singer. Known as the " Queen of Funk", her career has spanned more than five decades beginning in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of ...

*1980: '' Red Cab to Manhattan'' – Stephen Bishop *1980: '' One-Trick Pony'' –

*1980: ''

Gaucho A gaucho () or gaúcho () is a skilled horseman, reputed to be brave and unruly. The figure of the gaucho is a folk symbol of Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, the southern part of Bolivia, and the south of Chilean Patago ...

'' –

*1980: '' One Bad Habit'' – Michael Franks *1981: ''Apple Juice'' – Tom Scott *1981: '' There Must Be a Better World Somewhere'' – B.B. King *1981: ''

Torch A torch is a stick with combustible material at one end which can be used as a light source or to set something on fire. Torches have been used throughout history and are still used in processions, symbolic and religious events, and in juggl ...

'' –

*1981: '' Season of Glass'' –

*1981: '' 4'' – Foreigner *1982: '' The Nightfly'' – Donald Fagen *1982: '' Another Grey Area'' – Graham Parker *1982: ''

Hey Ricky ''Hey Ricky'' is the title of the tenth album release by Melissa Manchester. It was issued on Arista Records in April 1982. During the interim between the release of ''Hey Ricky'' and that of the precedent '' For the Working Girl'' in September ...

'' –

Melissa Manchester Melissa Manchester (born February 15, 1951) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Since the 1970s, her songs have been played by adult contemporary radio stations. She has also appeared on television, in films, and on stage. Early li ...

*1982: '' It's Alright (I See Rainbows)'' –

*1982: '' Objects of Desire'' – Michael Franks *1982: '' Anyone Can See'' – Irene Cara *1983: '' Guts for Love'' – Garland Jeffreys *1983: ''Emergency'' –

*1983: '' Dirty Looks'' – Juice Newton *1983: '' Burlap & Satin'' –

Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actress, and philanthropist, known primarily as a country music, country musician. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton's debut album ...

*1983: '' Hello Big Man'' –

*1984: '' Milk and Honey'' –

and

*1985: '' Skin Dive'' – Michael Franks *1987: '' Jill Jones'' – Jill Jones *1987: '' Coming Around Again'' –

*1987: '' Inside Information'' – Foreigner *1988: '' Lefty'' –

*1988: '' Hot Water'' –

Jimmy Buffett James William Buffett (December 25, 1946 – September 1, 2023) was an American singer-songwriter, author, and businessman. He was known for his tropical rock sound and persona, which often portrayed a lifestyle described as "island escapis ...

*1989: '' Steady On'' – Shawn Colvin *1991: '' Don't Call Me Buckwheat'' – Garland Jeffreys *1997: ''

A Story ''A Story'' is an album by Yoko Ono, recorded in 1974, during the "lost weekend" sessions in which John Lennon produced '' Walls and Bridges''. It was unreleased until the 1992 box set '' Onobox'', which featured material from ''A Story'' on ...

'' –

*1997: ''Alta suciedad'' – Andrés Calamaro *1997: '' Deuces Wild'' – B.B. King *2000: '' Two Against Nature'' -

*2003: '' Everything Must Go'' –

*2003: '' The Diary of Alicia Keys'' -

Alicia Keys Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American singer and songwriter. A classically trained pianist, Keys began composing songs at the age of 12 and was signed by Columbia Records at 15. After d ...

*2005: '' Restless Angel'' – Marie Gabrielle (co-producer) *2006: '' Morph the Cat'' – Donald Fagen *2007: ''Romancing the '60s'' –

Frankie Valli Francesco Stephen Castelluccio (born May 3, 1934), better known by his stage name Frankie Valli, is an American singer and occasional actor, best known as the frontman (lead singer) of The Four Seasons (band), the Four Seasons. He is known for ...

*2011: '' Stronger'' –

Kelly Clarkson Kelly Brianne (born Kelly Brianne Clarkson, April 24, 1982), known professionally as Kelly Clarkson, is an American singer, songwriter, and television personality. Rising to fame after winning the American Idol season 1, first season of ''Ameri ...

*2012: '' The King of In Between'' – Garland Jeffreys *2014: '' Life Journey'' – Leon Russell

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:McCracken, Hugh 1942 births 2013 deaths American session musicians American rock guitarists American male guitarists Musicians from Glen Ridge, New Jersey Musicians from Hackensack, New Jersey Guitarists from New Jersey American harmonica players Deaths from leukemia in New York (state) American mandolinists American pop guitarists American lead guitarists American rhythm guitarists American slide guitarists Plastic Ono Band members 20th-century American guitarists Guitarists from New York City White Elephant Orchestra members