Hugh McCracken is a session musician, arranger and producer based in New York.^[1]

Especially in demand in the 60s, 70s and 80s, he appears on many recordings by Steely Dan, as well as albums by Donald Fagen, Jimmy Rushing, Billy Joel, Roland Kirk, Roberta Flack, B. B. King, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Idris Muhammad, James Taylor, Phoebe Snow, Bob Dylan, Linda McCartney, Graham Parker, Yoko Ono, Eric Carmen, Loudon Wainwright III, Lou Donaldson, Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, The Four Seasons, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Hank Crawford, Jerry Jemmott and Gary Wright.

In the middle 60’s Hugh played in a North Jersey night club cover band called The Funatics under the stage name of Mack Pierce. The band became Mario & The Funatics for a short time when it merged with saxophonist/bandleader Mario Madison,(Pizzuto). (Mario & The Flips) He was a member of Mike Mainieri‘s White Elephant Orchestra (1969–1972),^[2] a 20-piece experimental/jazz-rock outfit based in New York City. The band was made up of many of today’s most sought-after session musicians, including Steve Gadd, Tony Levin, Warren Bernhardt, George Young, Frank Vicari, Michael Brecker, Ronnie Cuber,Jon Faddis, Lew Soloff, Randy Brecker, Barry Rogers, Jon Pierson, Steve Goodman, David Spinozza and Joe Beck.

Among the many collectors’ albums he appears on is the 1970 recording by Robert Palmer‘s Insect Trust, Hoboken Saturday Night, together with drum legends Bernard “Pretty” Purdie and Elvin Jones.

McCracken was invited by Paul McCartney to form the band that became known as Wings, but declined.

He also arranged, co-produced—together with Tommy LiPuma—and played on Dr. John‘s City Lights (1978) and Tango Palace (1979).

[edit]Discography

This section requires expansion.(November 2009)

• 1968: Eli and the Thirteenth Confession – Laura Nyro
• 1969: Completely Well – B.B. King
• 1970: A Time To Remember! – The Artie Kornfeld Tree
• 1970: Hoboken Saturday Night – The Insect Trust
• 1970: Outlaw – Eugene McDaniels
• 1970: Headless Heroes of the Apocalypse – Eugene McDaniels
• 1971: Ram – Paul McCartney
• 1972: Album III – Loudon Wainwright III
• 1972: Stoneground Words – Melanie Safka
• 1973: Sassy Soul Strut – Lou Donaldson
• 1973: From the Depths of My Soul – Marlena Shaw
• 1973: BreezyStories – Danny O’Keefe
• 1973: Daybreaks – John Wonderling
• 1974: Walking Man – James Taylor
• 1975: Still Crazy After All These Years – Paul Simon
• 1975: Feel Like Makin’ Love – Roberta Flack
• 1975: New York Connection – Tom Scott
• 1976: Just a Matter of Time – Marlena Shaw
• 1976: Yellow & Green – Ron Carter
• 1976: Second Childhood – Phoebe Snow
• 1977: Havana Candy – Patti Austin
• 1977: The Stranger – Billy Joel
• 1978: City Lights – Dr. John
• 1979: Tango Palace – Dr. John
• 1979: Headin’ Home – Gary Wright
• 1980: Double Fantasy – John Lennon and Yoko Ono
• 1980: One-Trick Pony – Paul Simon
• 1980: Gaucho – Steely Dan
• 1981: Season of Glass – Yoko Ono
• 1981: 4 – Foreigner
• 1982: The Nightfly – Donald Fagen
• 2003: Everything Must Go – Steely Dan

[edit]References

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