Biography
Through his many collaborations alongside Carole King and James Taylor, New York City native Danny Kortchmar played a central role in shaping the defining sound of the singer/songwriter period. During the mid-'60s he surfaced in local groups such as the Kingbees and the Flying Machine, the latter of which included an as-yet-unrecognized Taylor. Kortchmar entered the Fugs in 1967 and contributed to their Tenderness Junction LP, after which he relocated to California with bassist Charles Larkey; together they formed the short-lived trio the City alongside King.
Although the ensemble folded following the poor commercial showing of its 1969 debut Now That Everything's Been Said, Kortchmar and Larkey both continued supporting King throughout her early solo work. In 1970 Kortchmar rejoined Taylor for the breakthrough release Sweet Baby James and, through his contributions to King's landmark Tapestry, secured recognition as one of the leading West Coast session guitarists of the era. Amid this busy schedule he and Larkey also revived their partnership in Jo Mama, which issued a self-titled album in 1970 followed by J Is for Jump the next year.
Kortchmar launched his solo career with the 1973 album Kootch; a second effort, Innuendo, surfaced late in the decade. For the greater part of his career, however, he remained known primarily as a backing musician, appearing on releases by Linda Ronstadt, Warren Zevon, Harry Nilsson, and Jackson Browne. In 1982 he co-wrote several songs for Don Henley's solo debut I Can't Stand Still, most prominently the hit "Dirty Laundry." Around the same period Kortchmar began producing material for motion-picture soundtracks as well as recordings by Neil Young, Jon Bon Jovi, and Billy Joel. By the mid-'90s he was guiding a newer wave of artists that included Freedy Johnston and the Spin Doctors.
Although the ensemble folded following the poor commercial showing of its 1969 debut Now That Everything's Been Said, Kortchmar and Larkey both continued supporting King throughout her early solo work. In 1970 Kortchmar rejoined Taylor for the breakthrough release Sweet Baby James and, through his contributions to King's landmark Tapestry, secured recognition as one of the leading West Coast session guitarists of the era. Amid this busy schedule he and Larkey also revived their partnership in Jo Mama, which issued a self-titled album in 1970 followed by J Is for Jump the next year.
Kortchmar launched his solo career with the 1973 album Kootch; a second effort, Innuendo, surfaced late in the decade. For the greater part of his career, however, he remained known primarily as a backing musician, appearing on releases by Linda Ronstadt, Warren Zevon, Harry Nilsson, and Jackson Browne. In 1982 he co-wrote several songs for Don Henley's solo debut I Can't Stand Still, most prominently the hit "Dirty Laundry." Around the same period Kortchmar began producing material for motion-picture soundtracks as well as recordings by Neil Young, Jon Bon Jovi, and Billy Joel. By the mid-'90s he was guiding a newer wave of artists that included Freedy Johnston and the Spin Doctors.
Albums
