Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, both students at Bard University in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, met in 1967.  Together, they formed the American jazz rock band, Steely Dan, but only after performing in college venues and area clubs under the names, The Bad Rock Group and The Leather Canary.

Steely Dan

It's lucky for us, thinking as we do, that what we do essentially defies the kind of large-scale, commercial deification that has been given to people like Eminem. We believe that finding yourself in that position tends to undercut your ability to function as artists and as human beings.

The Beginning

Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, both students at Bard University in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, met in 1967.  Together, they formed the American jazz rock band, Steely Dan, but only after performing in college venues and area clubs under the names, The Bad Rock Group and The Leather Canary.  One of their first recordings was a contribution to the soundrack for Richard Pryor's You've Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat in 1971.

They released their debut album, Can't Buy a Thrill, in 1972.  The album peaked at #17 on the charts and went platinum.  The singles, Do It Again and Reelin' in the Years peaked at #6 and #1 respectively.  They launched a nationwide tour to promote the album, solidifying their fan base.

A Successful Career

In 1973, Steely Dan released Countdown to Ecstasy.  The album offered Showbiz Kids and My Old School, both appearing on the Billboard Top 100.  However, the album, itself, did not enjoy the success of its predecessor.  Becker and Fagen reported later that niether of them was particularly happy with the album, as it had been recorded between live shows.  They released four more albums in the 1970s, each enjoying some level of success.  Their 1977 release, Aja, (pronounced “Asia”) was their most successful of that decade, selling double platinum.

After the release of  Aja, the band suffered some setbacks.  Becker suffered tragedy when his girlfriend died of a drug overdose.  Added to the loss of a loved one was the $17 million wrongful death suit; the suit was later settled in his favor, but by then, Becker had seen the ugly side of living in the spotlight.  These, in addition to some additional challenges, helped prompt the two to decide to take some time off.

Here and Now

Fagen and Becker began to work together on small projects in the 1980s, prompting them to reunite in 1993, beginning with a nationwide tour.  Steely Dan toured extensively for the next three years, compiling live recordings, to be released on the live album, Alive in America, in 1995.  Two Against Nature was the name their 2000 studio album.  The album was warmly received and certified double platinum.  It also won four Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year.  

In 2003, they released Everything Must Go, which demonstrated only moderate commercial success.  They have been on tour almost non-stop since the album's release.  

Did you know . . .

1. At the time of their first album release, Donald Fagen was not willing to sing in front of a crowd, so David Palmer would supply vocals when they were on tour.

2. In the early days, when Becker and Fagan called themselves, Leather Canary, comedian Chevy Chase was their drummer.

3. In the late 1990s, Becker was run over by a taxi and shattered his leg.

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