Hugh McCracken

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Hugh McCracken is a rhythm guitar player and session musician, arranger and producer based in New York. He was especially in demand in the 60s, 70s and 80s, and appears on many recordings by Steely Dan, as well as albums by Donald Fagen, Jimmy Rushing, Billy Joel, Roland Kirk, Roberta Flack, B. B. King, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, Idris Muhammad, James Taylor, Phoebe Snow, Bob Dylan, Graham Parker, Yoko Ono, Eric Carmen, Loudon Wainwright III, Lou Donaldson, Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Hank Crawford, and Jerry Jemmott.

He was a member of Mike Mainieri's White Elephant Orchestra (1969-1972), a 20-piece experimental/jazz-rock outfit based in New York City. The band was made up of many of today's most sought-after session musicians, including Steve Gadd, Tony Levin, Warren Bernhardt, George Young, Frank Vicari, Michael Brecker, Ronnie Cuber, Jon Faddis, Lew Soloff, Randy Brecker, Barry Rogers, Jon Pierson, Steve Goodman and Joe Beck.

Among the many collectors' albums he appears on is the 1970 recording by Robert Palmer's Insect Trust, Hoboken Saturday Night, together with drum legends Bernard "Pretty" Purdie and Elvin Jones.

He also arranged, co-produced—together with Tommy LiPuma—and played on Dr. John's City Lights (1978) and Tango Palace (1979).