Fredrick O. Tackett (born August 30, 1945) is an American songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Originally a session player on guitar, mandolin, and trumpet, he is best known as a member of the band Little Feat. In addition to his work with Little Feat, Tackett has played and recorded with many notable artists, Bob Dylan and Jimmy Webb among them. He had an additional side project with another member of Little Feat; he performed as part of a duo with Paul Barrere, as Paul and Fred.

Association with Little Feat

Tackett's association with Little Feat goes back to a friendship with the founder of the band, Lowell George, at the time of its inception. Working as a session player for other musicians, he continued his friendship with the bandmates, and contributed a song "Fool Yourself" to their third album Dixie Chicken as well as acoustic guitar. He also contributed guitar to their sixth album Time Loves a Hero. In 1979 he co-wrote songs with Lowell George for both George's first (and only) solo project Thanks, I'll Eat It Here, and Little Feat's album Down on the Farm. It was during work on the latter that the group's break-up was announced. Lowell George died shortly afterwards. In 1983, he performed on the Antilles Records release Swingrass '83.

Joining Little Feat

In 1988 Little Feat reformed despite the absence of their former front man, and prolific singer, songwriter, and slide guitarist, Lowell George. The regrouped Little Feat included former members Paul Barrere, Richie Hayward, Bill Payne, Kenny Gradney, and Sam Clayton, with the addition of Tackett and Craig Fuller. All had been former members of Little Feat, except Fuller and Tackett, who had previously made songwriting contributions and session work for the band. Fuller left in 1993, to be replaced by female vocalist Shaun Murphy who remained with the group until 2009. Tackett has remained with Little Feat since the day he joined, and has become an integral member of the band. Fred Tackett has played a pivotal role in Little Feat's music. In addition to his guitar work, he plays trumpet and mandolin and has co-written several of their songs, forging an active and regular writing partnership with Paul Barrere which has produced such songs as "Marginal Creatures" and "Night On The Town". The 2003 album Kickin' It at the Barn featured Tackett's debut as a lead vocalist on his own song "In A Town Like This" which was also the title track from his solo debut album released that year.

Paul and Fred

Tackett's writing partnership with Barrere has developed into a separate act where the two performed as a duo. This has produced two live albums and a DVD. They have also spent time between gigs when touring to perform in local radio stations, playing songs that do not require a lot of changing of instruments, to travel as lightly as possible.

Discography

As Little Feat session musician

As Little Feat group member

Little Feat Live albums

Little Feat Live compilations

Paul and Fred

Solo

Collaborations

With Peter Allen With Deborah Allen With Paul Anka With Joan Baez With Russ Ballard With Carole Bayer Sager With Clint Black With Alfie Boe With Debby Boone With Elkie Brooks With Jackson Browne With Glen Campbell With Eric Carmen With Valerie Carter With Cher With Cher and Gregg Allman With Rita Coolidge With Judy Collins With A. J. Croce With Patti Dahlstrom With Joe Dassin With Neil Diamond With The 5th Dimension With Bob Dylan With Fleetwood Mac With Ted Gärdestad With Lowell George With Vince Gill With Arlo Guthrie With Danniebelle Hall With Steve Harley With Richard Harris With Marcia Hines With Thelma Houston With Janis Ian With Rickie Lee Jones With Christine Lakeland With Nicolette Larson With Lori Lieberman With Kenny Loggins With Mary MacGregor With Barry Manilow With Jeane Manson With Clair Marlo With Michael McDonald **With Mephistopheles ** With Bette Midler With Adam Mitchell With Tim Moore With Anne Murray With Michael Martin Murphey With Willie Nelson With Aaron Neville With Juice Newton With Harry Nilsson With The Oak Ridge Boys With Van Dyke Parks With Van Dyke Parks and Brian Wilson With Dolly Parton With Michel Polnareff With Eddie Rabbitt With Bonnie Raitt With Collin Raye With Helen Reddy With Johnny Rivers With Lionel Richie With Bruce Roberts With Kenny Rogers With Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton With Linda Ronstadt With Brenda Russell With Sanne Salomonsen With Sanford & Townsend With Leo Sayer With Boz Scaggs With Bob Seger With Carly Simon With Tom Snow With JD Souther With Ringo Starr With Rod Stewart With Barbra Streisand With The Supremes With Livingston Taylor With Captain & Tennille With Richard Thompson With Tanya Tucker With Valdy With Tom Waits With The Wallflowers With Jennifer Warnes With Jimmy Webb With Lauren Wood With Jesse Colin Young