It was announced in a post on his Facebook page that the iconic sticksman passed away on March 11, though no further details were given about the cause of death.
Blaine was born Harold Simon Belsky on February 5, 1929 in Holyoke, Massachusetts. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member was one of the busiest session drummers in Los Angeles during the 1960s and '70s, and recorded with a plethora of big names, including Elvis Presley, John Denver, Frank Sinatra, the Ronettes, Simon and Garfunkel, the Carpenters, the Beach Boys, Nancy Sinatra, and the 5th Dimension.
The prolific drummer was also well known for his work with the Wrecking Crew, an LA-based collective of session musicians that became the in-house studio band for Phil Spector. By garnering a great reputation they received requests to record for Sonny and Cher, the Mamas and the Papas, Sinatra (Frank and Nancy), the Byrds, Bob Dylan, the Monkees, and the Beach Boys on their 1966 album 'Pet Sounds'.
Blaine is said to hold a Grammy Awards record, having played on six consecutive Record of the Year winners: Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass in 1966 for A Taste of Honey, Frank Sinatra in 1967 for Strangers in the Night, the 5th Dimension in 1968 for Up, Up and Away, Simon and Garfunkel in 1969 for Mrs. Robinson, the 5th Dimension in 1970 for Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In, and Simon and Garfunkel in 1971 for Bridge Over Troubled Water.
Since the news broke, there's been a number of tributes shared online by members of the music community, including Brian Wilson, Ringo Starr and Ronnie Spector.
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
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