Who was Invoice Pitman? Tributes pour in as Los Angeles guitarist dies at 102 – –

Thoroughly-acknowledged session guitarist Month-to-month invoice Pitman, a member of the workforce Wrecking Crew, has simply handed away on the age of 102. In keeping with The New York Occasions, Pitman died on August 11 at his dwelling in La Quinta, California. In accordance to his wife, Janet Pitman, he died in hospice care quickly after injuring his backbone in a slide.

Pitman was born on February 12, 1920 and grew up in a musical family. His father was an NBC bass participant for applications. Bill Pitman 1st turned considering music when he was 5 yrs outdated, and thru substantial faculty he traveled usually from New Jersey to Manhattan to expertise the town’s jazz custom.

He additionally served within the navy providers by way of Earth Conflict II after which moved to Los Angeles. Within the Nineteen Fifties, on the age of 31, Invoice Pitman commenced finishing up in LA jazz golf tools. He rose to fame instantly after discovering a standard gig in Peggy Lee’s backup band. Instantly after that, Pitman was a frequent solid member on the radio present The Rusty Draper Clearly present for 3 a very long time.

Pitman’s effectively-regarded compositions comprise his do the job on the Seaside Boys’ “Good Vibrations,” the Ronettes’ “Be My Toddler,” “Mr. Tambourine Male by Bob Dylan and The Means We Have been by Barbra Streisand.

The ukulele entry of BJ Thomas’ Raindrops Proceed to maintain Fallin’ On My Head was additionally carried out by the artist.

Invoice Pitman began doing the job as a session artist in 1957

Spector’s 1958 music To Know Him Is To Like Him was the Wrecking Crew’s first strike. Pitman was swiftly approached for Capitol Data and different Los Angeles-based principally artists simply after the tune’s launch.

His session companions on the time offered Leon Russell, Carol Kaye and Glen Campbell. Pitman has labored with a quantity of nicely-acknowledged musicians, along with Frank Sinatra, The Seashore Boys and Bob Dylan.

He has additionally appeared in a quantity of movies which embody Blue Hawaii, a 1961 Elvis Presley movie, M*A*S*H, Quick Moments At Ridgemont Giant, Filthy Dancing and Goodfellas (1990).

In 2008, Pitman skilled an look within the documentary The Wrecking Crew, the place by he spoke to the loosely organized band of musicians about his carry out.

It was directed by Denny Tedesco, the son of Tommy Tedesco, a fellow Wrecking Crew guitarist.

He has additionally equipped audio for Fast Cases at Ridgemont Giant and Goodfellas, as properly as various industrial jingles and movie soundtracks. Within the Seventies, the artist additionally toured with artists this sort of as Vicki Carr and Burt Bacharach. The direct band on the MGM Grand Lodge additionally concerned Invoice Pitman.

The artist retired in 1989 however retained his get pleasure from of non-public tunes.