C4. Heard But Not Seen – The Studio Musicians

The bass line in Sonny and Cher’s “The Beat Goes On” came from Carol Kaye of L.A.’s Wrecking Crew. Funk Brothers guitarist Robert White pulls us in to “My Girl” by The Temptations.  Elvis Presley wanted Nashville’s Boots Randolph’s saxophone as the lead on “Return to Sender.” Al Jackson, Jr.’s simple cross-stick drumming picks up the heartbeat of Otis Redding’s “Try a Little Tenderness.” Another Redding tune, “Respect,” was recorded at the Muscle Shoals studio, with Jimmy Johnson's instantly recognizable guitar hook. 

We’ll listen to these and other musicians, and, in the process, we’ll hear new layers of familiar tunes.

Karl Hakkarainen is a long-time instructor and Factotum Emeritus for WISE. He has taught courses on topics such as technology, music, history, law, and education.