NPR

Hal Blaine, 'Most Recorded Drummer In History,' Dies At 90

The session musician's ubiquitous drums beat a path through rock history. As a member of the Wrecking Crew, Blaine can be heard backing everyone from Frank Sinatra to Neil Diamond and the Beach Boys.
Drummer Hal Blaine attends an awards ceremony in Anaheim, Calif., in 2014.

Hal Blaine, the studio drummer who lent his signature sounds and structure to scores of Grammy-winning and chart-topping songs — from Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin to the Byrds and the Beach Boys — died Monday at the age of 90. Blaine's family announced his death in a statement published to Facebook.

He was an "inspiration to countless friends, fans and musicians," the statement says, adding: "May he rest forever on

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