Rock & Roll isn't rocket science, but even if it was, Steely Dan and Doobie Brothers veteran Jeff' Skunk ' Baxter would be in his element. Born on this day in 1948 in Washington, DC. , Baxter's career in music began as a drummer in a prep school band dubbed King Thunder and the Lightning Bolts. A gig working as a teen at Manny's Music, a Mecca for musicians in search of instruments in Manhattan, led to him meeting Jimi Hendrix and briefly joining the lineup of the future guitar legend's band, Jimmy James and the Blue Flames, as a bassist. After moving to Boston to attend college, Baxter landed a place in Ultimate Spinach and then had a stint in the Holy Modal Rounders. After moving to SoCal, Jeff got session work as a guitarist and became a founding member of Steely Dan in 1972. After three albums, he made the jump to the Doobie Brothers.
A fascination with under the hood aspects of studio equipment and recording technology got him interested in other technologies, including missile guidance systems. Largely self-taught, Baxter became a highly respected expert in algorithms that could be used to improve missle defense capabilities and became a leading consultant to the Defense Department.
Other Noteworthy Classic Rock events on December 13 include...
1948 Ted Nugent born.
1949 Television's Tom Verlaine born (Thomas Miller).
1966 Jimi Hendrix Experience records Foxy Lady and later that day have their TV debut on Ready, Steady, Go!
1974 George Harrison visits the White House at the invitation of Jack Ford, the President's son.
1983 Robert Plant and Jimmy Page perform Roy Head's Treat Her Right in concert.
1985 Phil Collins guest stars on Miami Vice.
1988 Bruce Springsteen and Julianne Phillips divorce.
2000 Aerosmith, Queen, Steely Dan, Paul Simon announced as Rock Hall Of Fame 2001 inductees.
2001 Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Talking Heads, the Ramones announced as Rock Hall Of Fame 2002 inductees.
2002 Zal Yanovsky of the Lovin' Spoonful dies of a heart attack at 57.
2005 Cream Royal Albert Hall double CD released.
2010 Paul McCartney plays the Apollo Theater in Harlem.
2021 Bruce Springsteen does a surprise four song set backed by Steve Earle's band and Willie Nile at Earle's annual Friends of John Henry benefit at Town Hall in New York.
