It seems like daily there is news of a beloved performer leaving this realm. We are sorry to report on the passing of David Lindley.

David Lindley was an unusual talent, a musician’s musician. His discography is so extensive it borders on the ridiculous. the list of performers with which he has played or performed is stagging from Dolly Parton to Henry Kaiser, Belinda Carlisle, Jackson Brown, Warren Zevon, Crosby Stills and Nash, Eric Clapton, Blind Boys of Alabama, Emmylou Harris, Marshall Crenshaw, Linda Ronstadt, Ry Cooder, Bonnie Raitt, Curtis Mayfield, to countless others.

Lindley passed at the age of 78, just a few weeks short of his 79th birthday. Lindley was married twice, including in 1967 to Nancy A Jolly, and in 1976 to Joan Darrow. His career is not defined by his long term musical pairing with Jackson Brown, but that may be the most recognizable pairing for those who are less familiar with Lindley. His own band was El Rayo-X though there is little limit to the amount of music this genius player was able to create in over five decades of recording and performing.

Tributes are pouring in for David Lindley:

Jason Isbell: The loss of David Lindley is a huge one- Without his influence my music would sound completely different. I was genuinely obsessed with his playing from the first time I heard it. The man was a giant.

Mark Karan: “I am devastated at this loss. david has been a HUGE inspiration & one on my ALL-TIME fave musicians ever! his roots music, dong curation & all the awesome ethnic music influences he brought to the party made him such a special & beloved musician for us lovers of the eclectic.”

Jon Wurster: “I contend that this is one of the greatest live performances ever captured on tape. David Lindley was one of those rare birds who had a sound all his own. Jackson Browne – Running On Empty.”

David Lindsey’s biography from his own website:

Multi-instrumentalist David Lindley performs music that redefines the word “eclectic.” Lindley, well known for his many years as the featured accompanist with Jackson Browne, and leader of his own band El Rayo-X, has long championed the concept of world music. The David Lindley electro-acoustic performance effortlessly combines American folk, blues, and bluegrass traditions with elements from African, Arabic, Asian, Celtic, Malagasy, and Turkish musical sources. Lindley incorporates an incredible array of stringed instruments including but not limited to Kona and Weissenborn Hawaiian lap steel guitar, Turkish saz and chumbus, Middle Eastern oud, and Irish bouzouki. The eye-poppingly clad “Mr. Dave’s” uncanny vocal mimicry and demented sense of humor make his onstage banter a highlight of the show.

David Lindley grew up in southern California, first taking up the banjo as a teenager, and subsequently winning the annual Topanga canyon banjo and fiddle contest five times as he explored the American folk music tradition. between 1967 and 1971 Lindley founded and lead what must now be seen as the first world music rock band, the Kaleidoscope. In 1971, Mr. Dave joined forces with Jackson Browne, serving as Jackson’s most significant musical co-conspirator until 1981. In 1979, Lindley had begun working with old friend Ry Cooder on ‘Bop Till you Drop’ and ‘The Long Riders’ sound track, a musical collaboration that lasts to this day, and has spawned many recording projects and several world tours as an acoustic duo.

In 1981, Lindley created his own remarkable Band El Rayo-X, which integrated American roots music and world beat with a heavy reggae influence. ‘El Rayo-X’, ‘Win This Record’ and ‘Very Greasy’, as well as a live e.p. during this period he also came forth with a solo album, ‘Mr. Dave’. Lindley and guitarist Henry Kaiser went to Madagascar for two weeks in 1991 and recorded six albums of indigenous Malagasy music (including two collaborative cd’s, ‘A World Out of Time’ volumes one and two on Shanachie) which proved to have a major impact on the world music scene, both for the quality of the Grammy nominated music recorded, and the fair and ethical way the Malagasy musicians were dealt with. Throughout this long and distinguished career, Lindley has been one of Hollywood’s most in demand session musicians, lending his skills to the recorded works of Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart, Linda Ronstadt, Crosby and Nash, Warren Zevon, and many others.

In 1990 a chance meeting of Lindley and Jordanian born percussionist Hani Naser led to an impromptu jam and an instant decision that “we should take this on the road.” David and Hani toured the world for the following six years. The duo recorded two self-released “Official Bootleg” compact discs, ‘Live in Tokyo Playing Real Good’ and ‘Live All Over the Place Playing Even Better’ on Pleemhead audio.

THE AMAZING DISCOGRAPHY OF MR. DAVE:

David Lindley & Wally Ingram
Live in Europe (2004)
Twango Bango III (2003)
Twango Bango II (2001)
Twango Bango Deluxe (2000)
David Lindley & Hani Naser
Live In Tokyo / Playing Even Better (1995)
Live In Tokyo / Playing Really Good (1994)
David Lindley & Henry Kaiser
Vol.3 A World Out Of Time (1996)
The Sweet Sunny North (1994)
Vol.2 A World Out Of Time (1993)
Vol.1 A World Out Of Time (1992)
David Lindley & El Rayo-X
El Rayo-X Live (1990)
Very Greasy (1988)
Win This Record! (1982)
El Rayo-X (1981)
David Lindley
Big Twang (2008)
Song of Sacajawea (1992)
Mr. Dave (1985)
Kaleidoscope
Bemice (1970)
The Incredible Kaleidoscope (1968)
Beacon From Mars (1967)
Egyptian Candy Compilation (1991)
Side Trips (1967)
With Ry Cooder
Cooder-Lindley Family Live at the Vienna Opera House (1995)
Music By Ry Cooder (1995)
Trespass: Soundtrack (~1990)
Paris, Texas: Soundtrack (1989)
Alamo Bay: Soundtrack (1985)
Long Riders: Soundtrack (1980)
Bop Till You Drop (1979)
Jazz(1978)
With Jackson Browne
Love is Strange: En Vivo Con Tino (2010)
Best Of JB – Next Voice You Hear (1997)
Looking East (1996)
I’m Alive (1993)
World In Motion (1989)
Lives In The Balance (1986)
Hold Out (1980)
Running On Empty (1977)
The Pretender (1976)
Late For The Sky (1974)
For Everyman (1973)
With Warren Zevon
I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead (1996)
Mutineer (1995)
Transverse City (1989)
Sentimental Hygiene (1987)
Best Of- Quiet Normal Life (1986)
Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School (1980)
Warren Zevon (1976)
With Crosby, Stills and Nash
Carry On – Crosby Stills & Nash (1998)
Oh Yes I Can – David Crosby (1989)
Innocent Eyes – Graham Nash (1986)
Earth & Sky – Graham Nash (1980)
The Best Of Crosby & Nash (1979)
Crosby Nash Live (1977)
Whistling Down The Wire – Crosby & Nash (1976)
Wind On The Water – Crosby & Nash (1975)
Wild Tales – Graham Nash (1973)
Songs For Beginners – Graham Nash (1971)
With Rod Stewart
Spanner In The Works (1995)
Out Of Order (1988)
Night On The Town (1976)
Atlantic Crossing (1975)

Eric Clapton & Friends – The Breeze, an appreciation of JJ Cale (2014)
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band – The Promise (2010)
Ben Harper – Both Sides of the Gun (2006)
Aaron Neville – Ultimate Collection (2001)
The Blind Boys Of Alabama – Spirit Of The Century (2001)
Emmylou Harris – Anthology: Wamer / Reprise Years (2001)
Marshall Crenshaw – This Is Easy – The Best Of (2000)
Geoffmuldaur – Password (2000)
America – Highway – 30 Years Of America (2000)
Holly Cole – Best Of Holly Cole (2000)
Linda Ronstadt – Linda Ronstadt Box Set (1999)
Ben Harper – Bum To Shine (1999)
Dolly Parton/Linda Ronstadt/Emmylou Harris Trio – Trio 2 (1998)
Touched By An Angel – The Album (1998)
Chris Hillman – Like A Hurricane (1998)
Kenny Loggins – Yesterday Today Tomorrow: Greatest Hits (1997)
Eddie Money – Eddie Money/Life For The Taking (1997)
Martin Simpson – Cool & Unusual (1997)
Amy Grant – Behind The Eyes (1997)
Bangles – All Over The Place/Different Light (1997)
Banjo Jamboree – Banjo Jamboree (1996)
Rory Block – Tornado (1996)
Emmylou Harris – Portraits (1996)
Linda Thompson – Dreams Fly Away (1996)
Bread – Bread Retrospective (1996)
Tanita Tikaram – Lovers In The City (1995)
Dan Fogelberg – Souvenirs/Captured Angel/Netherlands (1995)
Linda Ronstadt – Feels Like Home (1995)
Dolly Parton – Heartsongs: Live From Home (1994)
John Prine – John Prine Christmas (1994)
Beat The Retreat: Songs By Richard Thompson (1994)
Kazu Matsui – Wheels Of The Sun (1994)
June Tabor – Against The Streams (1994)
Holly Cole – Don’t Smoke In Bed (1993)
Geronimo – Original Soundtrack (1993)
Tom Kell – Angeltown (1993)
Ian Matthews – Soul Of Many Places (1993)
Carlene Carter – Little Love Letters (1993)
Pahinui Brothers – Pahinui Brothers (1992)
Cedella Marley Booker – Smilm’ Island Of Song (1992)
Shawn Colvin – Fat City (1992)
Maggie’s Farm – Glory Road (1992)
Howard Jones – In The Running (1992)
Belinda Carlisle – Her Greatest Hits (1992)
Various Artists – For Our Children (1991)
Deadicated – Deadicated (1991)
John Prine – Missing Years (1991)
Kenny Loggins – Leap Of Faith (1991)
Troy Newman – Gypsy Moon (1991)
Aaron Neville – Warm Your Heart (1991)
Animal Logic – Animal Logic II (1991)
Taj Mahal – Like Never Before (1991)
David Bromberg – Sideman Serenade (1990)
Iggy Pop – Brick By Brick (1990)
Bob Dylan – Under The Red Sky (1990)
Sara Hickman – Shortstop (1990)
Carlene Carter – I Fell In Love (1990)
Andreas Vollenweider – Dancing With The Lion (1989)
Peter Case – Man With The Blue Posts Modem Fragmented Guitar (1989)
Marshall Crenshaw – Good Evening (1989)
Cry Before Dawn – Witness For The World (1989)
Various Artists – The Bridge: Tribute To Neil Young (1989)
New Frontier – New Frontier (1988)
Patti Austin – The Real Me (1988)
Brothers Figaro – Gypsy Beat (1988)
Pat McLaughlin – Pat Mclaughlin (1988)
Tanita Tikaram – Ancient Heart (1988)
Lonnie Mack – Road Houses & Dance Halls (1988)
Church -starfish (198 8)
Bangles – Everything (1988)
Jennifer Wames – Famous Blue Raincoat (1987)
Dolly Parton/Linda Ronstadt/Emmylou Harris Trio trio (1987)
Jimmy Bames – Freight Train Heart (1987)
John Eddie – John Eddie (1986)
Belinda Carlisle – Belinda (1986)
Jane Wiedlin – Jane Wiedlin (1985)
Chequered Past – Chequered Past (1984)
Glenn Shorrock – Villain Of The Peace (1983)
Savage – Loose & Lethal (1983)
Joe Walsh * There Goes The Neighborhood (1981)
David Gates – Falling In Love Again (1980)
Safe Energy Artists – No Nukes (1980)
Duane Eddy – Duane Eddy (1979)
Various Artists – Bread & Roses Festival (1979)
Tim Moore – High Contrast (1979)
Steve Gillette – A Little Warmth (1979)
Little Feat – Down On The Farm (1979)
David James Holster – Chinese Honeymoon (1979)
Karia Bonoff – Restless Nights (1979)
Priscilla Coolidge – Jones Flying (1979)
Kristin Berglund – Long Distance Love (1977)
Jesse Colin Young – American Dreams (1978)
David Gates – Goodbye Girl (1978)
Leo Sayer – Leo Sayer (1978)
Jay Boy Adams – Fork In The Road (1978)
Eddie Money – Life For The Talking (1978)
Lonnie Mack – Lonnie Mack With Pismo (1977)
Herb Pedersen – Sandman (1977)
Jay Boy Adams – Jay Boy Adams (1977)
Danny O’keefe – American Roulette (1977)
Dolly Parton – Here You Come Again (1977)
Herb Pedersen – Southwest (1976)
Dolly Parton – Say Forever You’ll Be Mine (1976)
Bonme Koloc – Close Up (1976)
Neil Sedaka – Steppin’ Out (1976)
Terry Reid – Seeds Of Memory (1976)
James Taylor – In The Pocket (1976)
Linda Ronstadt – Greatest Hits 1 (1976)
Osamu Kitajima – Passages (1975)
Paxton Brothers – Paxton Brothers (1975)
Linda Ronstadt – Prisoner In Disguise (1975)
James Reyne – James Reyne (1975)
Danny O’Keefe – So Long, Harry Truman (1975)
Mac Davis – Bumin’ Thing (1975)
Tom Jans – Eyes Of An Only Child (1975)
Ian Matthews – Some Days You Eat The Bear,
Some Days The Bear Eats You (1974)
John Michael Talbot – Talbot Brothers (1974)
John Sebastian – Tarzana Kid (1974)
Maria Muldaur – Maria Muldaur (1974)
Maria Muldaur – Waitress Inadonut Shop (1974)
Patti Dahlstrom – Your Place Or Mine (1974)
Linda Ronstadt – Heart Like A Wheel (1974)
David Blue – Nice Baby And The Angel (1973)
Terry Reid – River (1973)
Maxfield Parrish – I’ts A Cinch To Give Legs (1972)
America – America (1972)
Claire Hamill – One House Left Standing (1971)
Youngbloods – Elephant Mountain (1968)
The Rodents – And Your Bird Can Sing / Come And Live With Me (1966)

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