Fred Tackett
Fredrick O. Tackett is an American songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Originally a session player on guitar, mandolin, and trumpet, he is best known as a member of the band Little Feat.
In addition to his work with Little Feat, Tackett has played and recorded with many notable artists, Bob Dylan and Jimmy Webb among them. He had an additional side project with another member of Little Feat; he performed as part of a duo with Paul Barrere, as Paul and Fred.
Association with Little Feat
Tackett's association with Little Feat goes back to a friendship with the founder of the band, Lowell George, at the time of its inception. Working as a session player for other musicians, he continued his friendship with the bandmates, and contributed a song "Fool Yourself" to their third album Dixie Chicken as well as acoustic guitar. He also contributed guitar to their sixth album Time Loves a Hero.In 1979 he co-wrote songs with Lowell George for both George's first solo project Thanks, I'll Eat It Here, and Little Feat's album Down on the Farm. It was during work on the latter that the group's break-up was announced. Lowell George died shortly afterwards.
In 1983, he performed on the Antilles Records release Swingrass '83.
Joining Little Feat
In 1988 Little Feat reformed despite the absence of their former front man, and prolific singer, songwriter, and slide guitarist, Lowell George. The regrouped Little Feat included former members Paul Barrere, Richie Hayward, Bill Payne, Kenny Gradney, and Sam Clayton, with the addition of Tackett and Craig Fuller. Fuller left in 1993, to be replaced by female vocalist Shaun Murphy who remained with the group until 2009 when they pared back down to a six-piece. Tackett has remained with Little Feat since the day he joined, and has become an integral member of the band.Fred Tackett has played a pivotal role in Little Feat's music. In addition to his guitar work, he plays trumpet and mandolin and has co-written several of their songs,. Between 1991 and 2003, he forged an active and regular writing partnership with Paul Barrere which has produced such songs as "Marginal Creatures" and "Night On The Town". The 2003 album Kickin' It at the Barn featured Tackett's debut as a lead vocalist on his own song "In a Town Like This" which was also the title track from his debut solo album released that year on Feat's Hot Tomato label. A second effort, Silver Strings followed in 2010.
Paul and Fred
Tackett's writing partnership with Barrere developed into a separate act where the two performed as a duo. This produced two live albums and a DVD. They also spent time between gigs when touring to perform in local radio stations, playing songs that did not require a lot of changing of instruments, to travel as lightly as possible. Sadly this was brought to an end by Barrere's death from cancer in 2019.Discography
As Little Feat session musician
Dixie Chicken 1973Time Loves a Hero 1977Down on the Farm 1979As Little Feat group member
Let It Roll 1988Representing the Mambo 1990Shake Me Up 1991Ain't Had Enough Fun 1995Under the Radar 1998Chinese Work Songs 2000Kickin' It at the Barn 2003Rooster Rag 2012Little Feat Live albums
Live From Neon Park 1996Live at the Rams Head 2002Down Upon the Suwannee River 2003Highwire Act Live in St. Louis 2003 2004Barnstormin' Live 2005Rocky Mountain Jam 2007Little Feat Live compilations
Ripe Tomatos Volume One 2002Raw Tomatos Volume One 2002Paul and Fred
Live from North Cafe 2001Sights and Sounds DVD 2005Live in the UK 2008 2009Solo
In a Town Like This 2003Silver Strings 2010Collaborations
With Peter AllenI Could Have Been a Sailor Not the Boy Next DoorWith Deborah AllenCheat the Night
With Paul AnkaThe Music Man Headlines
With Joan BaezRecently
With Russ BallardAt the Third Stroke
With Carole Bayer SagerSometimes Late at Night
With Clint BlackLooking for Christmas Nothin' but the Taillights Christmas with You
With Alfie BoeTrust
With Debby BooneSurrender
With Elkie BrooksLive and Learn
With Jackson BrowneThe Pretender
With Glen CampbellRhinestone Cowboy Bloodline Southern Nights Basic Highwayman It's the World Gone Crazy
With Eric CarmenChange of Heart Tonight You're Mine
With The CarpentersMade in America Voice of the Heart
With Valerie CarterJust a Stone's Throw Away Wild Child
With CherStars
With Cher and Gregg AllmanTwo the Hard Way
With Rita CoolidgeIt's Only Love Satisfied Heartbreak Radio Dancing with an Angel
With Judy CollinsHard Times for Lovers
With A. J. CroceA. J. Croce
With Patti DahlstromYour Place or Mine
With Joe DassinBlue Country
With Neil DiamondHeartlight
With The 5th DimensionPortrait Love's Lines, Angles and Rhymes Individually & Collectively Living Together, Growing Together Earthbound
With Bob DylanSaved Shot of Love The Bootleg Series Vol. 13: Trouble No More 1979–1981
With Fleetwood MacTime
With Ted GärdestadBlue Virgin Isles
With Lowell GeorgeThanks, I'll Eat It Here
With Vince GillWhen I Call Your Name
With Arlo GuthriePower of Love
With Danniebelle HallThis Moment He Is King Let Me Have a Dream
With Steve HarleyHobo with a Grin
With Richard HarrisThe Yard Went On Forever
With Marcia HinesOoh Child
With Thelma HoustonSunshower Breakwater Cat
With Janis IanRestless Eyes
With Rickie Lee JonesRickie Lee Jones
With Christine LakelandVeranda
With Nicolette LarsonNicolette [In the Nick of Time (Fleetwood Mac album)|Time (album)|In the Nick of Time] Radioland All Dressed Up and No Place to Go
With Lori LiebermanA Piece of Time
With Kenny LogginsKeep the Fire The Unimaginable Life
With Mary MacGregor...In Your Eyes
With Barry ManilowBarry
With Jeane MansonStand by Me
With Clair MarloLet it Go
With Johnny MathisOnce in a While
With Michael McDonaldBlink of an Eye
With '
With Bette MidlerBroken Blossom
With Adam MitchellRedhead in Trouble
With Tim MooreWhite Shadows
With Anne MurrayThe Hottest Night of the Year
With Michael Martin MurpheyMichael Martin Murphey
With Willie NelsonAcross the Borderline
With Aaron NevilleThe Grand Tour
With Juice NewtonWell Kept Secret Take Heart Juice Quiet Lies Dirty Looks Can't Wait All Night Old Flame
With Harry NilssonSandman ...That's The Way It Is Flash Harry
With The Oak Ridge BoysAmerican Dreams
With Van Dyke ParksJump!
With Van Dyke Parks and Brian WilsonOrange Crate Art
With Dolly PartonHeartbreak Express
With Michel PolnareffMichel Polnareff
With Eddie RabbittRabbitt Trax
With Bonnie RaittHome Plate Sweet Forgiveness
With Collin RayeAll I Can Be
With Helen ReddyMusic, Music
With Johnny RiversOutside Help
With Lionel RichieLionel Richie Can't Slow Down
With Bruce RobertsBruce Roberts
With Kenny RogersShare Your Love Love Will Turn You Around We've Got Tonight Eyes That See in the Dark What About Me? The Heart of the Matter I Prefer the Moonlight
With Kenny Rogers and Dolly PartonOnce Upon a Christmas
With Linda RonstadtWe Ran
With Brenda RussellBrenda Russell
With Sanne SalomonsenLanguage of the Heart
With Sanford & TownsendDuo-Glide
With Leo SayerThunder in My Heart Leo Sayer Here
With Boz ScaggsSilk Degrees Some Change Fade into Light Come on Home
With Bob SegerLike a Rock The Fire Inside It's a Mystery
With Carly SimonAnother Passenger
With Tom SnowTom Snow
With JD SoutherYou're Only Lonely
With Ringo StarrStop and Smell the Roses
With Rod StewartAtlantic Crossing A Night on the Town Foot Loose & Fancy Free Blondes Have More Fun
With Barbra StreisandWet
With The SupremesThe Supremes Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Webb
With Livingston TaylorThree Way Mirror
With Captain & TennilleMake Your Move
With Richard ThompsonAmnesia
With Tanya TuckerShould I Do It
With ValdySee How the Years Have Gone By
With Tom WaitsSwordfishtrombones
With The WallflowersBringing Down the Horse
With Jennifer WarnesFamous Blue Raincoat
With Jimmy WebbWords and Music And So: On Letters Land's End El Mirage Angel Heart
With Lauren WoodLauren Wood
With Jesse Colin Young'The Perfect Stranger''