Bucky Baxter was a pedal steel guitarist who toured with Bob Dylan and was a founding member of Steve Earle’s backing band, the Dukes.
- Died: May 25, 2020 (Who else died on May 25?)
- Details of death: Died in Sanibel Island, Florida at the age of 65.
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Backing musical legends
Baxter first made his mark as he played pedal steel guitar for Steve Earle beginning on the country singer-songwriter’s 1986 debut album, “Guitar Town.” He remained with Earle for notable albums including “Copperhead Road” (1988) before meeting Bob Dylan while on tour with Earle. Dylan asked Baxter for steel guitar lessons, and Baxter ended up joining Dylan’s backing band in the 1990s as they toured and recorded albums including the Grammy-winning “Time Out of Mind” (1997). Baxter also backed musicians including Ryan Adams, R.E.M., Kacey Musgraves, and Old Crow Medicine Show.
Baxter on playing Dylan’s classic songs
“Bob’s a great songwriter. I never really remember any songs that I didn’t like. Sure, I got sick of playing ‘All Along the Watchtower.’ But on the other hand, there are songs like ‘Tangled Up in Blue’ that we played seven nights a week and I never got sick of it.” —from an interview with On the Tracks
What people said about him
Full obituary: Rolling Stone
