Fred Tackett


Fred Tackett an American native of Arkansas, is an accomplished 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. All had been former members of Little Feat, except Fuller and Tackett, who had previously made songwriting contributions and session work for the band. Fuller left in 1993, to be replaced by female vocalist Shaun Murphy who remained with the group, until 2009. 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, forging 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 solo debut album released that year.

Paul and Fred

Tackett's writing partnership with Barrere has developed into a separate act where the two performed as a duo. This has produced two live albums and a DVD. They have also spent time between gigs when touring to perform in local radio stations, playing songs that do not require a lot of changing of instruments, to travel as lightly as possible.

Discography

As Little Feat session musician

With Peter Allen
With Thelma Houston
With Kenny Loggins
With Boz Scaggs
With Carole Bayer Sager
With Steve Harley
With Tanya Tucker
With Livingston Taylor
With Brenda Russell
With Helen Reddy
With Harry Nilsson
With Rickie Lee Jones
With Valerie Carter
With Nicolette Larson
With Elkie Brooks
With Rod Stewart
With Juice Newton
With Michael McDonald
With Bette Midler
With Barbra Streisand
With Eric Carmen
With Kenny Rogers
With Johnny Rivers
With Van Dyke Parks
With Ringo Starr
With Debby Boone
With Bonnie Raitt
With Aaron Neville
With Dolly Parton
With Barry Manilow
With Christine Lakeland
With Van Dyke Parks and Brian Wilson
With Leo Sayer
With Rita Coolidge
With Collin Raye
With Jackson Browne
With Cher
With Vince Gill
With Neil Diamond
With Jennifer Warnes
With Tom Waits
With Paul Anka
With Carly Simon
With Jimmy Webb
With Joan Baez
  • Recently
With Joe Dassin
  • Blue Country
With Bob Dylan
With Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton