Walter Becker (February 20, 1950 - September 3, 2017) was one
of the main songwriters and musicians of the jazz fusion band
Steely Dan. Along with keyboardist and vocalist Donald Fagen,
Becker co-wrote all of Steely Dan's songs, as well as providing
bass and, in later albums, guitar. Becker's crippling drug
problem eventually led to then end of Steely Dan in 1981, and
he spent most of the '80s and '90s producing records. Steely
Dan reformed in 1993, and they have been doing sporadic
touring until his death in 2017.
He released two albums as a solo artist.
