Paul Griffin (musician)


Paul Griffin was an American pianist and session musician who recorded with hundreds of musicians from the 1950s to the 1990s.

Career

Born in Harlem, New York, he began as the touring pianist in the backing band for King Curtis and eventually worked with Bob Dylan, Steely Dan, Don McLean, the Isley Brothers, Van Morrison, the Shirelles, and Dionne Warwick. He may be best known for playing on the albums Highway 61 Revisited, Blonde on Blonde, and Aja. He is extensively featured playing a virtuoso performance of gospel piano on Don McLean's single, "American Pie" He is credited as co-author of the song "The Fez" on Steely Dan's The Royal Scam.
He was an arranger for The Warriors and Four Friends and performed in On Location: Robert Klein at Yale and on the soundtrack for Blue Sunshine. Griffin died at age 62 at his home in New York.

Recordings

With Bob Dylan
With Dion DiMucci
With George Benson
With Tom Rush
With Wilson Pickett
With Michael Franks
With John Denver
With Peter, Paul and Mary
With Al Kooper
With David Clayton-Thomas
With Gloria Loring

With LaVern Baker
  • See See Rider
With Solomon Burke
With Jackie Lomax
With Steely Dan
  • The Royal Scam
  • Aja
With Marlena Shaw
With Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway
With John Lennon and Yoko Ono
  • Milk and Honey
With Don McLean
  • American Pie
With Carly Simon
  • Carly Simon
With Roberta Flack
With Cheryl Lynn
  • In Love
With Gloria Gaynor
  • Gloria Gaynor
With Stephanie Mills
With Donald Fagen
  • Kamakiriad
With Yoko Ono
  • It's Alright
With Van Morrison
  • Blowin' Your Mind!
With Paul Simon
With Garland Jeffreys
With Aretha Franklin
With Bonnie Raitt
With Laura Nyro