Guitarist Invoice Pitman, a veteran of The Wrecking Crew, has died on the age of 102.
As reported by The New York Occasions, Pitman died on Thursday August 11 at his residence in La Quinta, California. No reason behind loss of life has been revealed, nonetheless Pitman reportedly spent the final month of his life recovering from an accident that left him with a fractured backbone.
Born on February 12, 1920, Pitman was raised in a musical family, as his father labored as a workers bassist for programming at NBC. His journey with music started at age 5 and thru highschool, making common treks from New Jersey to Manhattan as an admirer of the native jazz scene. He started enjoying in jazz golf equipment round LA in 1951 (at age 31) and his profession catapulted after scoring an everyday gig in Peggy Lee‘s backing band.
He went on to carry out commonly for The Rusty Draper Present, a radio gig that he caught with for 3 years earlier than being poached for session work by artists like Al Hendrickson, Howard Roberts, Buddy Wealthy and Pink Callender. His introduction to rock’n’roll got here by way of Phil Spector, who, after an opportunity assembly with Pitman, recruited him into his cohort of big-name session gamers.
Although unnamed on the time, this collective – which featured a fluctuating roster of members all based mostly in LA – went on to be dubbed by member Hal Blaine as The Wrecking Crew. Their first hit was The Teddy Bears 1958 single “To Know Him Is To Love Him”, which led to Pitman being invited to all of Spector’s future recording classes.
As a member of The Wrecking Crew, Pitman carried out on albums by the likes of The Byrds, Nancy Sinatra, James Brown, The Monkees and plenty of others.
A few of his most revered contributions embrace work on The Seaside Boys‘ “Good Vibrations“, Dylan‘s “Mr. Tambourine Man”, The Ronettes‘ “Be My Child“, Sinatra‘s “Strangers In The Night time” and Barbra Streisand‘s “The Approach We Have been“.
Pitman’s most recognisable work is alleged to be the acoustic guitar enjoying on Pet Sounds’ opening observe, “Wouldn’t It Be Good“. Along with his fellow Californians, Pitman additionally carried out on ‘The Seaside Boys At this time!’ and ‘Summer time Days (And Summer time Nights!!)’, each launched in 1965.
Elsewhere, Pitman labored on a litany of movie and TV soundtracks. His earliest contribution to cinema may be heard in Elvis Presley‘s 1961 movie Blue Hawaii, whereas later accomplishments embrace scores for M*A*S*H (1970), Quick Occasions At Ridgemont Excessive (1982), Soiled Dancing (1987) and Goodfellas (1990).
The Wrecking Crew’s success was celebrated within the 2008 documentary The Wrecking Crew!, directed by Denny Tedesco, son of fellow Wrecking Crew guitarist Tommy Tedesco.
On the official Fb web page for the movie, Tedsco shared a tribute to Pitman. “He was my dad’s buddy who performed guitar and golf with him,” he wrote. “It wasn’t till I received older did I perceive the impression that he made. Invoice might be heard from ‘Mr. Tamborine Man’ to ‘Good Vibrations’… He was an incredible man.”
The tribute was shared alongside a five-minute interview with Pitman that featured in The Wrecking Crew!, filmed when he was 82 years previous – watch it under:
Passing of Legendary Wrecking Crew member, Invoice Pitman
We have misplaced one other buddy of ours final night time. Invoice Pitman has handed away. He was 102. Born on February 12, 1920Growing up, as a bit child, I all the time knew who Invoice Pitman was. He was my dad’s buddy who performed guitar and golf with him. It wasn’t till I received older did I perceive the impression that he made. Invoice might be heard from Mr. Tamborine Man to Good Vibrations. Tons of and lots of of Movie and tv. He grew to become the primary name with the Danelectro guitar for a few years. The interview I did with Invoice for the WC Film, he was 82 years younger. He was an incredible man. Finest to his spouse Jan and his kids. Jr. Salt, we’ll miss you. Say hey to Sr.
Posted by The Wrecking Crew on Friday, August 12, 2022
Pitman is survived by his spouse Jan and their kids.
Extra reporting by Ellie Robinson.
