Brian Wilson and Ringo Starr are among the stars paying tribute to veteran drummer Hal Blaine, who died at age 90 on Monday (March 11).
“I’m so sad, I don’t know what to say,” Wilson tweeted alongside a vintage photo of himself with the drummer. “Hal Blaine was such a great musician and friend that I can’t put it into words. Hal taught me a lot, and he had so much to do with our success – he was the greatest drummer ever. We also laughed an awful lot. Love, Brian.”
Starr also paid his respects to Blaine, tweeting, “God bless Hal Blaine peace and love to all his family Goodbye Hal an incredible musician.”
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Nancy Sinatra, Eric Carmen of The Raspberries and Ronnie Spector of The Ronettes were also among those who shared memories and condolences for the late musician.
As a member of The Wrecking Crew, Blaine was one of the most renowned session musicians in the L.A. music industry, playing on numerous hits throughout the 1960s and ’70s by The Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, Carpenters and more. He also contributed drums to dozens of No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including Nancy Sinatra’s “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’,” Captain & Tennille’s “Love Will Keep Us Together” and The Partridge Family’s “I Think I Love You,” as well as six consecutive Grammy winners for record of the year from 1966 to 1971.
See more tributes to Hal Blaine below.
I’m so sad, I don’t know what to say. Hal Blaine was such a great musician and friend that I can’t put it into words. Hal taught me a lot, and he had so much to do with our success – he was the greatest drummer ever. We also laughed an awful lot. Love, Brian pic.twitter.com/vLOX3RIKc6
— Brian Wilson (@BrianWilsonLive) March 11, 2019
God bless Hal Blaine peace and love to all his family Goodbye Hal an incredible musician. –??–????
— #RingoStarr (@ringostarrmusic) March 12, 2019
Here is a tribute to my dear friend and Drummer Man, Hal Blaine. Godspeed, Hal. — https://t.co/3HgAyX2u9V
— Nancy Sinatra (@NancySinatra) March 11, 2019
Here’s a list of the records Hal Blaine played on. Incredible! https://t.co/CQxXCHR28Y
— Eric Carmen (@RealEricCarmen) March 12, 2019
Hal Blaine the master RIP
— Peter Frampton (@peterframpton) March 11, 2019
RIP Hal Blaine.
There will never be another…
Google the hits he played on !!— Steve Lukather (@stevelukather) March 11, 2019
A tremendous loss. I was fortunate enough to record with him one time; the same session I met @benchten. Farewell Hal Blaine, and thanks for the great music. https://t.co/H5eH0A6VoM
— rosanne cash (@rosannecash) March 12, 2019
Goodbye my old friend.see u in the next life…R.i.p. Hal Blaine pic.twitter.com/Uwedvc43BK
— Chad Smith (@RHCPchad) March 12, 2019