I started playing electric bass when I was twelve. I had already been playing upright for a couple years, and was only slightly interested in electric… until I heard this song:

I figured out how to play the bass line and I was hooked. The Bassist? Donald “Duck” Dunn. His band, Booker T & the MGs, has since been a major influence on Garage Voice. It shows in our song titles – an older song of ours was called “Book It”, a little tip of the hat. It also shows in our music, and especially in our incorporation of the Hammond organ.

A favorite song of mine to perform is our instrumental “Cropper”, named after the MG’s guitarist, Steve Cropper. This morning Steve Cropper, on tour with Donald in Tokyo, awoke to find that his friend and fellow musician of 50+ years had died in his sleep.

Some musicians you just enjoy listening to. Others you hope to meet and thank for the profound influence they’ve had on your life.

I am truly sad to learn of his death.

-Bruce