Denny Dias
Encyclopedia
Denny Dias is an American
guitar
ist, most known for being a founding member of Steely Dan
.
that read: "Looking for keyboardist and bassist. Must have jazz chops! Assholes need not apply". Donald Fagen
and Walter Becker
responded to the advertisement. They joined his band and immediately began playing their own material. Amazed at the talent Becker and Fagen had, Dias fired the rest of the band, and the three of them moved to California, adding drummer Jim Hodder
, guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, and vocalist David Palmer
before recording for ABC/Dunhill Records as Steely Dan. Dias recorded as a permanent member of the band on 1972's Can't Buy a Thrill
(with a noteworthy electric sitar
solo in the song "Do It Again
"), 1973's Countdown to Ecstasy
, and 1974's Pretzel Logic
. Following a tour promoting Pretzel Logic, Becker and Fagen decided to break the band up and use session musician
s on future albums. Dias was included as a session guitarist on 1975's Katy Lied
- playing a solo on "Your Gold Teeth II" - as well as 1976's The Royal Scam
, and 1977's Aja
. However, he would not appear on the band's 1980 release Gaucho
, the final release by Steely Dan before a 20-year hiatus. In 1991 he joined Toto
on their Summer Festival Tour. He also recorded with Wayne Shorter
, Wilfrido Vargas
and Pete Christlieb
.
Dias is now a computer programmer living in Los Angeles. Along with Rich McConnell and Basil Hosmer, Dias has been an architect of Nantucket's Clipper 5.x xBase
compiler.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
ist, most known for being a founding member of Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
.
Career
Dias was working with his own band out of his basement in Hicksville, Long Island, when he placed an ad in The Village VoiceThe Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
that read: "Looking for keyboardist and bassist. Must have jazz chops! Assholes need not apply". Donald Fagen
Donald Fagen
Donald Jay Fagen is an American musician and songwriter, best known as the co-founder, lead singer, and the principal songwriter of the rock band Steely Dan ....
and Walter Becker
Walter Becker
Walter Carl Becker is an American musician, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the co-founder, guitarist, bassist and a co-writer of Steely Dan.-Career:...
responded to the advertisement. They joined his band and immediately began playing their own material. Amazed at the talent Becker and Fagen had, Dias fired the rest of the band, and the three of them moved to California, adding drummer Jim Hodder
Jim Hodder (musician)
Jim Hodder was an American drummer, best known as the original drummer for Steely Dan.He was born in Boston in 1947. As drummer/vocalist, he was a member of the band Bead Game, which released one album titled "Welcome" in 1970 on Avco/Embassy...
, guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, and vocalist David Palmer
David Palmer (vocalist)
David Palmer is an American vocalist and songwriter, most noted for his lead vocals on the Steely Dan song "Dirty Work" and as lyricist of the Carole King #2 hit, "Jazzman". Palmer was born and raised in Warren Township, Watchung, New Jersey....
before recording for ABC/Dunhill Records as Steely Dan. Dias recorded as a permanent member of the band on 1972's Can't Buy a Thrill
Can't Buy a Thrill
Can't Buy a Thrill is the first album by Steely Dan. Originally released in 1972, the album was a huge success. It went gold, and then platinum, peaking at #17 on the charts. In 2003, the album was ranked number 238 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time...
(with a noteworthy electric sitar
Electric sitar
An electric sitar is a kind of electric guitar designed to mimic the sound of the traditional Indian instrument, the sitar. Depending on the manufacturer and model, these instruments bear varying degrees of resemblance to the traditional sitar...
solo in the song "Do It Again
Do It Again (Steely Dan song)
"Do It Again" is a song by American jazz-rock group Steely Dan, which was released as a single from their debut 1972 album Can't Buy a Thrill...
"), 1973's Countdown to Ecstasy
Countdown to Ecstasy
Countdown to Ecstasy is the second album by rock group Steely Dan, released in July 1973. The album was written and recorded in rushed sessions between live concerts and produced two Billboard Hot 100 hits, "Show Biz Kids" and "My Old School".-History:...
, and 1974's Pretzel Logic
Pretzel Logic
Pretzel Logic is the third studio album by the American jazz-rock band Steely Dan, originally released in 1974. The album's opening song, "Rikki Don't Lose That Number", became the band's biggest hit, reaching #4 on the charts soon after the release of the album. The album itself went gold, and...
. Following a tour promoting Pretzel Logic, Becker and Fagen decided to break the band up and use session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
s on future albums. Dias was included as a session guitarist on 1975's Katy Lied
Katy Lied
Katy Lied is the fourth album by Steely Dan, originally released in 1975 by ABC Records. It went gold and peaked at #13 on the US charts. The single "Black Friday" also charted at #37....
- playing a solo on "Your Gold Teeth II" - as well as 1976's The Royal Scam
The Royal Scam
The Royal Scam is the fifth album by Steely Dan, originally released by ABC Records in 1976. The album went gold and peaked at #15 on the charts. The Royal Scam features more prominent guitar work than other Steely Dan albums...
, and 1977's Aja
Aja (album)
-Charts:AlbumPop Singles-Awards:Grammy Awards-External links:**, courtesy of The Museum of Classic Chicago Television...
. However, he would not appear on the band's 1980 release Gaucho
Gaucho (album)
Gaucho is the seventh studio album by the American Jazz rock band Steely Dan, released in 1980. The sessions for Gaucho represented the peak of Steely Dan's recording studio perfectionism and obsessive recording techniques...
, the final release by Steely Dan before a 20-year hiatus. In 1991 he joined Toto
Toto (band)
Toto is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1977. The group currently consists of Joseph Williams , David Paich , Steve Porcaro , Steve Lukather , Mike Porcaro , and Simon Phillips . Toto is known for a musical style that combines elements of pop, rock, soul, funk, progressive rock, hard...
on their Summer Festival Tour. He also recorded with Wayne Shorter
Wayne Shorter
Wayne Shorter is an American jazz saxophonist and composer.He is generally acknowledged to be jazz's greatest living composer, and many of his compositions have become standards...
, Wilfrido Vargas
Wilfrido Vargas
Wilfrido Radamés Vargas Martínez was born in Altamira, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.He was surrounded by musical influences; namely, his father Ramón, an accordionist and guitarist, and his mother Bienvenida, a flute player and guitarist...
and Pete Christlieb
Pete Christlieb
Pete Christlieb is a jazz bebop, West Coast jazz and hard bop tenor saxophonist.-Biography:Christlieb was born in Los Angeles, California and is the son of bassoonist Don Christlieb...
.
Dias is now a computer programmer living in Los Angeles. Along with Rich McConnell and Basil Hosmer, Dias has been an architect of Nantucket's Clipper 5.x xBase
XBase
xBase is the generic term for all programming languages that derive from the original dBASE programming language and database formats. These are sometimes informally known as dBASE "clones"...
compiler.
CD
- Can't Buy a ThrillCan't Buy a ThrillCan't Buy a Thrill is the first album by Steely Dan. Originally released in 1972, the album was a huge success. It went gold, and then platinum, peaking at #17 on the charts. In 2003, the album was ranked number 238 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time...
- Steely Dan (1972) - Countdown to EcstasyCountdown to EcstasyCountdown to Ecstasy is the second album by rock group Steely Dan, released in July 1973. The album was written and recorded in rushed sessions between live concerts and produced two Billboard Hot 100 hits, "Show Biz Kids" and "My Old School".-History:...
- Steely Dan (1973) - Pretzel LogicPretzel LogicPretzel Logic is the third studio album by the American jazz-rock band Steely Dan, originally released in 1974. The album's opening song, "Rikki Don't Lose That Number", became the band's biggest hit, reaching #4 on the charts soon after the release of the album. The album itself went gold, and...
- Steely Dan (1974) - Katy LiedKaty LiedKaty Lied is the fourth album by Steely Dan, originally released in 1975 by ABC Records. It went gold and peaked at #13 on the US charts. The single "Black Friday" also charted at #37....
- Steely Dan (1975) - The Royal ScamThe Royal ScamThe Royal Scam is the fifth album by Steely Dan, originally released by ABC Records in 1976. The album went gold and peaked at #15 on the charts. The Royal Scam features more prominent guitar work than other Steely Dan albums...
- Steely Dan (1976) - AjaAja (album)-Charts:AlbumPop Singles-Awards:Grammy Awards-External links:**, courtesy of The Museum of Classic Chicago Television...
- Steely Dan (1977) - Tribute to Jeff Porcaro - David Garfield (1997)
- Hoy - Wilfrido Vargas (1997)
- Round the Gum Tree: The British Bubblegum Explosion! - Various Artists (2004)
- Apogee [Bonus Tracks] - Pete Christlieb (2004)
- Footprints: The Life and Music of Wayne Shorter - Wayne Shorter (2004)