THE HAT SQUAD - REMEMBERING WALTER BECKER

From the LA Times:
Walter Becker, the cofounder of Steely Dan who was known for his acerbic wit and his proficient work with the guitar, has died. He was 67.

As one of the key architects of Steely Dan, Becker and longtime musical partner Donald Fagen were responsible for numerous hit songs and albums throughout the band’s 1970s heyday. Often low-key and influenced by jazz or R&B, Steely Dan’s patiently calm arrangements contrasted with the band’s dark sense of humor and heavily poetic lyrics — word puzzles that were often caked in cynicism and subtle perversity.

No cause of death was given, and Becker’s death was first announced by the artist’s official website early Sunday. Shortly after, Fagen released a statement through a publicist in which he pledged to keep Steely Dan’s music alive and praised his collaborator as “smart as a whip, an excellent guitarist and a great songwriter.”Todd Martens
September 3, 2017

As Steely Dan, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker saw their songs used in plenty of TV shows to provide the proper mood for the scenes.  From animated shows to gangster dramas, here are some of those songs listed (minus any actual appearances by the band.)

The Simpsons 
- Dad Behavior (2016) ... (writer: "Dirty Work")
- Treehouse of Horror XXVII (2016) ... (writer: "Babylon Sisters")
 

Royal Pains
- Good Air/Bad Air (2014) ... (writer: "Pretzel Logic")

True Blood
- Fire in the Hole (2014) ... (writer: "Fire in the Hole")

The Footy Show
- The Grand Final Footy Show (2011) ... (writer: "The Horses")

Parenthood 
- I Don't Want to Do This Without You (2011) ... (writer: "Only a Fool Would Say")

One Night Stand
- Kid Went Nuts! (2010) ... (writer: "Rikki Don't Lose That Number")
- Paul's Birthday Present (2010) ... (writer: "Rikki Don't Lose That Number")

Ugly Betty
- The Sex Issue (2009) ... (writer: "Black Cow")

Life on Mars 
- The Man Who Sold the World (2008) ... (writer: "Reeling In The Years")

Cold Case
- Glory Days (2008) ... (writer: "Do It Again", "Reelin' In The Years")

Max & Paddy's Road to Nowhere
- Episode #1.6 (2004) ... (writer: "Do It Again")

Nip/Tuck
- Rose and Raven Rosenberg (2004) ... (writer: "Deacon Blue")

Six Feet Under
- Nobody Sleeps (2003) ... (writer: "Peg")

"The One"

(TV Movie) (writer: "Rikki Don't Lose That Number")

The Dead Zone 
- Wheel of Fortune (2002) ... (writer: "Do It Again")

Ed
- Power of the Person (2002) ... (writer: "Reelin' In The Years")

The Sopranos
- Mr. Ruggerio's Neighborhood (2001) ... (writer: "Dirty Work")

Chicago Hope
- Wild Cards (1995) ... (writer: "Doctor Wu")

Baywatch
- Game of Chance (1992) ... (writer: "The Horses")

Sjans
- Geld (1992) ... (writer: "Do It Again")

Reasonable Doubts 
- Aftermath (1991) ... (writer: "Dirty Work")
- Daddy's Little Girl (1991) ... (writer: "Black Cow")

Knight Rider
- Deadly Maneuvers (1982) ... (writer: "Rikki Don't Lose That Number")

WKRP in Cincinnati
- Real Families (1980) ... (writer: "Peg", "Deacon Blues")

Pauline's Quirkes
- Episode #1.2 (1976) ... (writer: "Rikki Don't Lose That Number")

Good night and may God bless, Mr. Becker.  Steely Dan had been my favorite band since I was at UConn in the mid-1970s.  I'll still have the music, but I'm greedy.  I would have liked more to come my way.....

BCnU!