On this day (September 17) in 2006, top-tier session guitarist Al Casey died in Phoenix, Arizona, at age 69. A member of the legendary “Wrecking Crew”, you’ve heard Casey’s work on classics such as Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman”, the Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations”, and Lee Hazlewood’s “The Fool”. While Casey’s talents were never front and center, he no doubt left a lasting legacy across multiple genres in the music industry. Today, we’re exploring that legacy on the 20th anniversary of his passing.
Remembering Al Casey
Born October 26, 1936, in Long Beach, California, Alvin Wayne Casey spent much of his childhood in Phoenix, Arizona, where he moved at two years old.
Al Casey’s guitar-playing prowess surfaced at an early age. His dad played guitar and wanted his 6-year-old son to follow in his footsteps, but his fingers were still too small, so he switched to ukulele.
At 8, Casey picked up the steel guitar. By 14, he was proficient enough to land paying gigs on the Phoenix club scene…