David Lindley, the eclectic slide guitarist and multi-instrumentalist who played on some of Jackson Browne’s most successful albums, died on Friday March 4. He was 78. No cause of death has yet been disclosed but a fundraiser to cover medical expenses from an undisclosed illness was run online earlier this year.
Lindley also worked with Warren Zevon, Ry Cooder and Linda Rondstadt, formed the band El-Ray-X and was heard on numerous Los Angeles studio sessions in the ’70s and ’80s.
Lindley established his name first through the psychedelic folk-rock group Kaleidoscope in 1966 and then, after working with singer Terry Reid and playing on his acclaimed album River, he became an in-demand session player after playing on Leonard Cohen’s debut album Songs of Leonard Cohen. While he missed Jackson Browne’s debut album due to touring duties he played a major role in its follow-up For Everyman in 1973 and Late for the Sky in 1974. Lindley also played a prominent role in the 1977 hit album Running on Empty, also featuring on vocals on the cover version of Maurice Williams’ ‘Stay.’ Browne and Lindley recorded the double live album Love Is Strange: El Vivo Con Tino which was released in 2010.
Lindley also played on Linda Ronstadt’s Heart Like a Wheel, Warren Zevon’s self-titled debut album in 1976. Lindley played on the Ry Cooder studio albums Jazz (1978) Bop Til You Drop (1979) as well as four soundtrack albums. Lindley also worked with Crosby & Nash, Rod Stewart and played on more than 100 other sessions, including Bob Dylan (Under The Red Sky), Ben Harper, Iggy Pop and John Prine (The Missing Years). He released four solo albums as well as collaborations with Wally Ingram, Henry Kaiser and Hans Naser.
Australian singer Jimmy Barnes posted: “I had the honor of working with David Lindley when he played slide guitar on the Freight Train Heart Album. He was a truly a beautiful musician who brought songs to life. RIP David. The world has lost one of the greats.”
Bassist Leland Sklar, who worked with Lindley, posted: “Lost one the most truly unique and special musician and friends EVER! There was no other like David Lindley. Forever in my heart, soil and groove. My heart is with you wonderful family now. Going to miss you my brother.”
Americana singer-songwriter and guitarist Jason Isbell tweeted, “The loss of David Lindley is a huge one. Without his influence my music would sound completely different. I was genuinely obsessed with his playing from the first time I heard it. The man was a giant.”
Warren Haynes posted: “I’ve always put David on a short list of major influences on my slide playing- especially on the melodic side. Often times when I’m approaching a song or solo in a major key Lindley’s influence will appear automatically. His style was so vocalesque and his sense of melody was a deep well.”
David Lindley was born in San Marino, Calif., on March 21, 1944, grew up in a musical household and started playing banjo and fiddle. He became a five-time winner of the annual Topanga Canyon Banjo Contest and attended La Salle High School in Pasadena, where he formed the folk group the Mad Mountain Ramblers and met Chris Darrow playing in Los Angeles clubs and formed Kaleidoscope, releasing the debut album, Side Trips, in 1967.
While he became well-known for his work with Browne, Devon, Cooder and Linda Rondstadt he formed thew group El Rayo-X which released its debut album in 1981. Rondstadt produced their album Very Greasy in 1988.
Lindley was a longtime resident of Claremont, Calif. He is is survived by his wife, Joan Darrow — sister of his Kaleidoscope bandmate Chris Darrow — and their daughter, Rosanne Lindley.