Walter Becker's adopted daughter Sayan has written a loving tribute to her father, the co-founder of Steely Dan, who passed away on Sunday, aged 67.
In a long homage published in Rolling Stone, Sayan, who was adopted by Becker and his wife, Elinor, wrote, "You loved music more than anyone I know. You're always there bobbing your head to each beat, doing a little dance here and there, or sitting over there with your big headphones on and swaying back and forth. I could see it, your dissecting the song - listening in closely for each beat, for each musical instrument - you know, whatever you musicians do. But I get it."
Sayan also recalled how every car journey with her late father ended up at a guitar store. "Heck, dad, I keep telling you why don't you just own your own store? Five hours go by as I sit watching you fiddle with a guitar here and there...yet you never end up buying one. I understand though; it was your fun place, like an arcade; playing all you can, and as loud as you can. Your candy shop.
"Dad you're kinda funny; sometimes I may not understand the meaning behind your witty highly intelligent comments or jokes, but for you to smile and make everyone - or even thousands all at once - smile and laugh, then yeah you got something going for you pops... I get it. Your presence makes everyone's day a little brighter. I love you for that."
Sayan also wondered how her dad had so much ready information about every state or country they once visited together. "We would walk through Central Park Zoo and just randomly point out some little thing... and here it comes, some long historical fact about it. Dad, it's a seal for crying out loud!"
Steely Dan's gigs in Dublin's 3Arena on October 28, which is sold out, and 30 will go ahead according to the promoter of the shows.
The daughter of the much-revered Steely Dan musician declares that her father's love "is shining from the next galaxy. I could see it now; you got a whole galaxy of guitars to look at. Rock on dad, rock on until your heart is content."
Walter Becker was born in Forest Hills, Queens in 1950 and had a tough, abusive childhood, according to long-time partner Donald Fagen who also penned a much-quoted tribute, although Fagen elected to 'spare' (readers) the details of such turmoil.
Becker developed a serious drug problem in the 1970s, possibly related to the pressures of work and partying, given four reputedly 'exhaustive' tours on the back of successive albums in the 1970s.
He moved to the island of Maui in Hawaii in 1981 where he had his own studio situated on land in the middle of a cattle ranch, at some distance from his home.
He produced albums for China Crisis and Rickie Lee Jones and also farmed avocados following detox. Becker divorced from his wife Elinor in 1997 and he is also survived by his son Kawai.
