Happy 70th birthday today to guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter who was born on 12/13/48. The guitarist has made his rounds with psychedelic rock band Ultimate Spinach, The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan (their first three albums, Can’t Buy a Thrill in 1972, Countdown to Ecstasy in 1973, and Pretzel Logic in 1974), and Spirit in the 1980s. Baxter has also worked with many other artists including Willy DeVille, Bryan Adams, Eric Clapton, Sheryl Crow, Joni Mitchell, Dolly Parton, Carly Simon, Ringo Starr, Gene Simmons and Rod Stewart. More recently, he has worked as a defense consultant and chairs a Congressional Advisory Board on missile defense. Watch Steely Dan with Baxter perform “Reelin’ in the Years” on the Midnight Special in 1973,
One Response
Great article. Jeff Baxter is my favorite Rock Guitarists. And his work for the government shows that he is a great American doing what he can for his country. I’ll never meet him but he has impacted my life and millions of others in a positive way. I know it’s a little late but I wish him a great year as well as a great belated birthday. May he have many many more.