R.I.P.: Joe Osborn, Wrecking Crew Bassist

Joe Osborn, the bassist in the famed Wrecking Crew, the group of studio musicians who performed on tracks like Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and the Mamas & the Papas’ “California Dreamin’,” has died at the age of 81.

Denny Tedesco, the director of the 2008 documentary The Wrecking Crew, confirmed to Rolling Stone that Osborn died December 14th following a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Joe Osborn

The Louisiana-born Osborn entered the music business as a member of Ricky Nelson’s backing band and appeared on the pop singer’s 1961 hit “Travelin’ Man” before the bassist moved to Los Angeles in 1964; soon after, Lou Adler and Bones Howe recruited to join their iteration of the Wrecking Crew, a team of elite session musicians often called upon by the Beach Boys, Phil Spector, the Monkees and more.

As a member of the Wrecking Crew, Osborn contributed to hit singles like the Fifth Dimension’s “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In,” Tommy Roe’s “Dizzy,” Grass Roots’ “Midnight Confessions,” the Association’s “Windy,” Richard Harris’ “MacArthur Park,” Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Only Living Boy in New York” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” America’s “Ventura Highway” and the Carpenters’ “Close to You.”

After a decade-long association with the Wrecking Crew, Osborn moved from Los Angeles to Nashville, where he soon became one of country music’s most in-demand session musicians, performing on Merle Haggard, Reba McEntire, Chet Atkins and Kenny Rogers, Variety reports. The Wrecking Crew stated that Osborn appeared on 53 Number One country hits.