Larry Beckett

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Larry Beckett (born 4 April 1947, Glendale, California) is a poet and songwriter, best known for his collaborations with Tim Buckley in the late-1960s.

Buckley and Beckett starting writing together in the mid-1960s, when both were members of Southern California group the Bohemians, in which Beckett played drums and Jim Fielder (later of Blood, Sweat and Tears) played bass. They recorded a demo for Elektra Records, but the company was only interested in Buckley as a solo artist, not the group.

Beckett contributed to Buckley's first two albums, "Tim Buckley" and "Goodbye and Hello", both as co-songwriter and as a collaborator on arrangements. The songs which Beckett co-wrote, such as "Morning Glory" and "Song to the Siren", were characterised by the literary tone of his lyrics. The title track of "Goodbye and Hello" was originally constructed by Beckett as a piece in which two voices would sing different words and melodies.

Beckett and Buckley resumed their songwriting partnership for "Starsailor" in 1970, and Beckett was sporadically involved in Buckley's later work until his death in 1975. He has remained a poet as well as working as a computer consultant, based in Portland, Oregon.