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Spooner Oldham

January 26, 2023

Dewey Lindon "Spooner" Oldham (born June 14, 1943)[1][2] is an American songwriter and session musician. An organist, he recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, at FAME Studios as part of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section on such hit R&B songs as Percy Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman", Wilson Pickett's "Mustang Sally", and Aretha Franklin's "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)". As a songwriter, Oldham teamed with Dan Penn to write such hits as "Cry Like a Baby" (the Box Tops), "I'm Your Puppet" (James and Bobby Purify), and "A Woman Left Lonely" and "It Tears Me Up" (Percy Sledge).[3]

Spooner Oldham
Oldham in 2009 in Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Background information
Birth nameDewey Lindon Oldham, Jr.
Born (1943-06-14) June 14, 1943 (age 79)
Center Star, Alabama
United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
Instrument(s)
  • Keyboards
Years active1960s–present
Websitespooneroldhammusic.com

Biography

Oldham is a native of Center Star, Alabama, United States.[4] He was blinded in his right eye as a child; when reaching for a frying pan, he was hit in the eye by a spoon he knocked from a shelf. Schoolmates gave him the name "Spooner" as a result.[5]

Oldham started his career in music by playing piano in bands during high school. He then attended classes at the University of North Alabama but turned instead to playing at FAME Studios.[6] He moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1967 and teamed with Penn at Chips Moman's American Studios.[7]

Oldham later moved to Los Angeles and has continued to be a sought-after backing musician, recording and performing with such artists as Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Delaney Bramlett, Willy DeVille, Joe Cocker, the Hacienda Brothers, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, the Everly Brothers, Bob Seger, Dickey Betts, Cat Power, J.J. Cale, Frank Black, and The Mountain Goats.[6]

Frequently a backing musician for Neil Young,[6] he played on Young's critically acclaimed 1992 album Harvest Moon. Oldham also appeared in the concert film Neil Young: Heart of Gold and backed Crosby Stills Nash & Young on their 2006 Freedom of Speech tour.[8]

In 1993, he joined a host of Memphis soul music veterans to record Arthur Alexander's comeback and un-intended final studio recording, the album Lonely Just Like Me.[9][10][11]

In 2007, Oldham toured with the Drive-By Truckers on their The Dirt Underneath tour. In 2008, Oldham played on Last Days at the Lodge, the third album released by folk/soul singer Amos Lee. In May 2011, Oldham backed Pegi Young on a six-show tour of California.

Oldham was among the hundreds of artists whose material was destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.[12]

Awards

Oldham was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009 as a sideman. In 2014, he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.[13]

Solo album

Pot Luck (Family Productions, 1972)[14]

Collaborations

With Arthur Alexander

  • 1962: You Better Move On (Dot Records)
  • 1993: Lonely Just Like Me (Elektra)

With Shelby Lynne

With Steve Cropper

  • Dedicated – A Salute to the 5 Royales (429 Records, 2011)

With Neil Young

With Billy Ray Cyrus

  • The SnakeDoctor Circus (BBR, 2019)

With Rita Coolidge

With Linda Ronstadt

With Wilson Pickett

With John Prine

With Jennifer Warnes

With Aretha Franklin

With Dan Penn

  • Nobody's Fool (Bell Records, 1973)
  • Do Right Man (Sire Records, 1994)
  • Moments From This Theatre (Proper American, 1999)[15]
  • Something About the Night (Dandy Records, 2016)

With Frank Black

With Jewel

With Bob Seger

With Jackson Browne

With Tony Joe White

With Sheryl Crow

  • Threads (Big Machine Records, 2019)

With J. J. Cale

With Amos Lee

With Josh Groban

With Maria Muldaur

  • Maria Muldaur (Reprise Records, 1973)
  • Waitress in a Donut Shop (Reprise Records, 1974)

With Bob Dylan

  • Saved (Columbia Records, 1980)

With Keith Richards

With Boz Scaggs

With Peter Parcek

  • Mississippi Suitcase (Lightnin' Records, 2020)[16]

References

  1. ^ "Spooner Oldham's Concert & Tour History | Concert Archives". Concertarchives.org. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  2. ^ "spooner oldham". Light In The Attic Records. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  3. ^ Kurutz, Steve. "Spooner Oldham Biography". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  4. ^ "Spooner Oldham". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham - Old souls". Nodepression.com. January 2006.
  6. ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 918. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  7. ^ Hasted, Nick (5 November 1999). "Music: Good ol' boys in the hood". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-24.
  8. ^ "Spooner Oldham Biography". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
  9. ^ "Arthur Alexander "Lonely Just Like Me"". Discogs.com. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  10. ^ "Arthur Alexander "Lonely Just Like Me - The Final Chapter"". Discogs.com. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  11. ^ "Arthur Alexander "Lonely Just Like Me"". Stereophile.com. 15 July 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  12. ^ Rosen, Jody (25 June 2019). "Here Are Hundreds More Artists Whose Tapes Were Destroyed in the UMG Fire". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  13. ^ "6 slated for Alabama Music Hall of Fame". The Miami Herald. Associated Press. 28 February 2014.
  14. ^ "Spooner Oldham "Pot Luck"". Discogs.com. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
  15. ^ "Dan Penn And Spooner Oldham - Moments From This Theatre". Discogs.com. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  16. ^ Gunther, Marty. "Peter Parcek – Mississippi Suitcase | Album Review". Bluesblastmagazine.com. Retrieved April 5, 2021.

External links

January 26, 2023
spooner, oldham, dewey, lindon, spooner, oldham, born, june, 1943, american, songwriter, session, musician, organist, recorded, muscle, shoals, alabama, fame, studios, part, muscle, shoals, rhythm, section, such, songs, percy, sledge, when, loves, woman, wilso. Dewey Lindon Spooner Oldham born June 14 1943 1 2 is an American songwriter and session musician An organist he recorded in Muscle Shoals Alabama at FAME Studios as part of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section on such hit R amp B songs as Percy Sledge s When a Man Loves a Woman Wilson Pickett s Mustang Sally and Aretha Franklin s I Never Loved a Man The Way I Love You As a songwriter Oldham teamed with Dan Penn to write such hits as Cry Like a Baby the Box Tops I m Your Puppet James and Bobby Purify and A Woman Left Lonely and It Tears Me Up Percy Sledge 3 Spooner OldhamOldham in 2009 in Muscle Shoals AlabamaBackground informationBirth nameDewey Lindon Oldham Jr Born 1943 06 14 June 14 1943 age 79 Center Star AlabamaUnited StatesGenresR amp BsoulrockOccupation s Songwritersession musicianInstrument s KeyboardsYears active1960s presentWebsitespooneroldhammusic wbr com Contents 1 Biography 2 Awards 3 Solo album 4 Collaborations 5 References 6 External linksBiography EditOldham is a native of Center Star Alabama United States 4 He was blinded in his right eye as a child when reaching for a frying pan he was hit in the eye by a spoon he knocked from a shelf Schoolmates gave him the name Spooner as a result 5 Oldham started his career in music by playing piano in bands during high school He then attended classes at the University of North Alabama but turned instead to playing at FAME Studios 6 He moved to Memphis Tennessee in 1967 and teamed with Penn at Chips Moman s American Studios 7 Oldham later moved to Los Angeles and has continued to be a sought after backing musician recording and performing with such artists as Bob Dylan Aretha Franklin Delaney Bramlett Willy DeVille Joe Cocker the Hacienda Brothers Linda Ronstadt Jackson Browne the Everly Brothers Bob Seger Dickey Betts Cat Power J J Cale Frank Black and The Mountain Goats 6 Frequently a backing musician for Neil Young 6 he played on Young s critically acclaimed 1992 album Harvest Moon Oldham also appeared in the concert film Neil Young Heart of Gold and backed Crosby Stills Nash amp Young on their 2006 Freedom of Speech tour 8 In 1993 he joined a host of Memphis soul music veterans to record Arthur Alexander s comeback and un intended final studio recording the album Lonely Just Like Me 9 10 11 In 2007 Oldham toured with the Drive By Truckers on their The Dirt Underneath tour In 2008 Oldham played on Last Days at the Lodge the third album released by folk soul singer Amos Lee In May 2011 Oldham backed Pegi Young on a six show tour of California Oldham was among the hundreds of artists whose material was destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire 12 Awards EditOldham was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009 as a sideman In 2014 he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame 13 Solo album EditPot Luck Family Productions 1972 14 Collaborations EditThis section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources Please help by adding reliable sources Contentious material about living people that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately Find sources Spooner Oldham news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2020 Learn how and when to remove this template message With Arthur Alexander 1962 You Better Move On Dot Records 1993 Lonely Just Like Me Elektra With Shelby Lynne Tears Lies and Alibis Everso 2010 With Steve Cropper Dedicated A Salute to the 5 Royales 429 Records 2011 With Neil Young Comes a Time Reprise Records 1978 Old Ways Reprise Records 1985 Silver amp Gold Reprise Records 2000 Prairie Wind Reprise Records 2005 With Billy Ray Cyrus The SnakeDoctor Circus BBR 2019 With Rita Coolidge Rita Coolidge A amp M Records 1971 With Linda Ronstadt Don t Cry Now Asylum Records 1973 With Wilson Pickett The Exciting Wilson Pickett Atlantic Records 1966 The Wicked Pickett Atlantic Records 1967 The Sound of Wilson Pickett Atlantic Records 1967 With John Prine Aimless Love Oh Boy Records 1984 A John Prine Christmas Oh Boy Records 1994 With Jennifer Warnes Jennifer Reprise Records 1972 With Aretha Franklin Aretha Arrives Rhino Records 1967 Lady Soul Rhino Records 1968 Aretha Now Atlantic Records 1968 Soul 69 Atlantic Records 1969 With Dan Penn Nobody s Fool Bell Records 1973 Do Right Man Sire Records 1994 Moments From This Theatre Proper American 1999 15 Something About the Night Dandy Records 2016 With Frank Black Honeycomb Cooking Vinyl 2005 Fast Man Raider Man Cooking Vinyl 2006 With Jewel Pieces of You Atlantic Records 1995 With Bob Seger Beautiful Loser Capitol Records 1975 With Jackson Browne For Everyman Asylum Records 1973 With Tony Joe White Closer to the Truth Festival Records 1991 With Sheryl Crow Threads Big Machine Records 2019 With J J Cale 8 Mercury Records 1983 Travel Log Silvertone Records 1990 Number 10 Silvertone Records 1992 Closer to You Virgin Records 1994 With Amos Lee Last Days at the Lodge Blue Note Records 2008 With Josh Groban Illuminations 143 Records 2010 With Maria Muldaur Maria Muldaur Reprise Records 1973 Waitress in a Donut Shop Reprise Records 1974 With Bob Dylan Saved Columbia Records 1980 With Keith Richards Crosseyed Heart Reprise Records 2015 With Boz Scaggs Memphis 429 Records 2013 With Peter Parcek Mississippi Suitcase Lightnin Records 2020 16 References Edit Spooner Oldham s Concert amp Tour History Concert Archives Concertarchives org Retrieved 2 October 2021 spooner oldham Light In The Attic Records Retrieved 2 October 2021 Kurutz Steve Spooner Oldham Biography Allmusic Rovi Corporation Retrieved 10 March 2014 Spooner Oldham Encyclopedia of Alabama Retrieved 2 October 2021 Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham Old souls Nodepression com January 2006 a b c Colin Larkin ed 1997 The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music Concise ed Virgin Books p 918 ISBN 1 85227 745 9 Hasted Nick 5 November 1999 Music Good ol boys in the hood The Independent Archived from the original on 2022 05 24 Spooner Oldham Biography Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Retrieved 10 March 2014 Arthur Alexander Lonely Just Like Me Discogs com Retrieved 14 June 2019 Arthur Alexander Lonely Just Like Me The Final Chapter Discogs com Retrieved 14 June 2019 Arthur Alexander Lonely Just Like Me Stereophile com 15 July 2017 Retrieved 14 June 2019 Rosen Jody 25 June 2019 Here Are Hundreds More Artists Whose Tapes Were Destroyed in the UMG Fire The New York Times Retrieved 28 June 2019 6 slated for Alabama Music Hall of Fame The Miami Herald Associated Press 28 February 2014 Spooner Oldham Pot Luck Discogs com Retrieved 15 August 2020 Dan Penn And Spooner Oldham Moments From This Theatre Discogs com Retrieved April 6 2021 Gunther Marty Peter Parcek Mississippi Suitcase Album Review Bluesblastmagazine com Retrieved April 5 2021 External links Edit Spooner Oldham Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Spooner Oldham discography at Discogs Spooner Oldham at IMDb Spooner Oldham Interview NAMM Oral History Library 2017 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Spooner Oldham amp oldid 1135113785, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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