Walter Becky is the famed co-founder of rock band, Steely Dan. He played guitar, provided backup vocals and co-wrote songs. His band won multiple Grammy Awards and was cherished by millions of fans. Rolling Stone dubbed Steely Dan as “the perfect musical antiheroes for the Seventies.”
On Sunday, September 3, 2017, Walter Becker passed away at the age of 67. He leaves behind decades worth of songs, memories and a fortune worthy of his contribution to music and pop culture. Let’s take a look at the riches that Becker left behind…
Walter Becker Net Worth as of 2019: $20 Million
Becker left behind a sizeable fortune estimated to be $20 million. He has been apart of rock ‘n’ roll since the early 1970s and continued to make music up until his death. In 2001, Steely Dan was inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame. Becker and his boys are true legends. It all started when a couple of college kids got together to make music…
1971 – 1981
Becker formed Steely Dan with his friend Donald Fagen, who he met while attending Bard College. They were joined by Denny Dias, Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, and drummer Jim Hodder, spending the next three years touring and recording. In 1974, the group released its first album Pretzel Logic.
The group released several more albums in short order. Steely Dan hit the jackpot with their sixth studio album Aja, which was critically and commercially acclaimed, becoming the group’s best selling album.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgYuLsudaJQ
Steely Dan broke up in 1981 after their seventh studio album Gaucho (1980). The group wouldn’t get back together until 1993. Instead, Walter focused on a life as a record producer in Hawaii.
1981 – Present
After Steely Dan broke up, Becker moved out to Maui and stopped using drugs. He transitioned to a life as a record producer. Becker produced music for stars such as Michael Franks, Fra Lippo Lippi, Rickie Lee Jones, and many more.
In 1993, Becker and Fagen got back together to reform Steely Dan and go on tour. That year, Becker co-produced Fagen’s album Kamakiriad. In return, Fagen co-produced Becker’s 1994 solo record debut called 11 Tracks of Whack. Becker released his second album in 2008 called Circus Money.
In 2000, Steely Dan won four Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, for eight studio album Two Against Nature. A year later, the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The group continued to tour up until Becker’s death.
2018
Walter Becker died last year, and his band will perform for the first time since his death on Walnut Creek with fellow remaining band members.
2019
Becker, Steely Dan’s guitarist and co-leader who died at the age of 67 of esophageal cancer is honored with Street Naming in Queens.
