Who plays guitar on Linda Ronstadt’s 1977 ‘Blue Bayou’ cover?
Linda Ronstadt’s 1977 cover of Roy Orbison’s “Blue Bayou” became the biggest hit of her career, even though its demanding vocal range made it difficult for her to perform repeatedly. The article highlights the musicians whose playing helped carry the arrangement while Ronstadt caught her breath.
Waddy Wachtel played acoustic guitar and Dan Dugmore played pedal steel; both were prolific session musicians, and Dugmore later joined Ronstadt’s touring band. Don Henley of the Eagles also sang backing vocals, though the song’s success and awards largely centred on Ronstadt’s performance.
- Ronstadt’s biggest hit was also a demanding song to sing.
- Waddy Wachtel played acoustic guitar.
- Dan Dugmore played pedal steel and later toured with Ronstadt.
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Linda Ronstadt was an American singer whose work ranged across rock, country and pop. In 1977 she recorded a country-influenced version of “Blue Bayou”, a song first made famous by Roy Orbison in 1963.
The recording brought together musicians with different roles: Waddy Wachtel played acoustic guitar, Dan Dugmore played pedal steel, and Eagles singer Don Henley added backing vocals. Session musicians such as Wachtel and Dugmore often played on recordings by many artists, helping shape songs without being their lead performers.
The song became one of Ronstadt’s best-known hits, and its demanding vocal line could be difficult to sing repeatedly. Knowing who played on the recording helps show how the arrangement supported her voice.