My Take
Honestly, Duck Dunn might be the most underrated musician in the history of American music — the guy was the heartbeat of the Memphis soul sound and most people couldn't even pick him out of a lineup. As the bass half of Booker T. & the M.G.'s and the go-to session man at Stax Records, he laid the groove under some of the greatest soul recordings ever made: Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave — that deep, locked-in feel you can't quite explain but instantly feel? That's Duck. He made it look effortless, which is exactly the mark of a master. And then he showed up in The Blues Brothers and reminded everyone that serious musicians can still have a blast. Memphis born and Memphis bred right down to his bones, he passed in 2012 at 70, and the pocket he left behind in those recordings will never, ever be filled.
Overview
Donald "Duck" Dunn (November 24, 1941 – May 13, 2012) was an American bass guitarist, session musician, record producer, and songwriter. Dunn was notable for his 1960s recordings with Booker T. & the M.G.'s and as a session bassist for Stax Records.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Donald "Duck" Dunn
- Name (Japanese)
- ドナルド・ダック・ダン
- Reading
- どなるど・だっく・だん
- Born
- November 24, 1941 – May 13, 2012
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Sagittarius / Snake
- Origin
- Memphis, Tennessee, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- record producer / songwriter / actor / musician / bass guitarist
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Messick High School
- University
- Private
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.