David Lindley photographed in Los Angeles, 1986
AARON RAPOPORT/CORBIS/GETTY IMAGES
DAVID
LINDLEY WAS
the epitome of a musician’s musician, not only for his comprehensive skills but also for his infectious personality. Lindley was best known as the ultimate sidekick, with crazy credits ranging from Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton to John Hiatt, James Taylor and Jackson Browne. His melodic lap steel and signature searing tone totally transformed Browne’s sound in the ’70s, so much that Lindley was practically a second lead voice in his band. “Running on Empty ” and “Stay ” wouldn’t likely be the classic rock staples they ’ve become without Lindley ’s presence. (That’s him singing the impossibly high falsetto chorus on the latter track from the Running on Empty album.)
Lindley, who died of complications from Long COVID on March 3, 2023, founded his pioneering world-fusion band El Rayo-X in 1981, and secured Browne to produce their eponymous first album that same year. El Rayo-X received much critical acclaim, respectable commercial success and opened new avenues for Lindley. Along with George Harrison, he brought melodic slide playing to music lovers around the globe, proving its worth beyond the blues.