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,
