Grammy-winning keyboard player Larry Knechtel died in hospital last Thursday aged 69 after suffering a heart attack, a spokesman for Valley Hills Funeral Home in Yakima, Washington confirmed on Monday.
Born in California in 1940, Knetchtel had a long career in the music industry, recording and playing live with artists including Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys, The Doors, Ray Charles, Neil Diamond and Randy Newman, and working closely with Phil Spector as the producer developed his 'wall of sound' style. In 1970 he won a Grammy for his arrangement on Simon & Garfunkel's song 'Bridge Over Troubled Water'. He also performed on The Dixie Chicks' Grammy-winning album 'Take The Long Way'.
A private memorial is planned, though details of this have not yet been announced.