Paul Griffin (August 6, 1937 – June 14, 2000) was an American pianist and session musician who recorded with hundreds of musicians from the 1950s to the 1990s.

Career

Born in Harlem, New York, he began as the touring pianist in the backing band for King Curtis and eventually worked with Bob Dylan, Steely Dan, Don McLean, the Isley Brothers, Van Morrison, the Shirelles, and Dionne Warwick. He may be best known for his colourful and distinctive playing on the Bob Dylan albums Highway 61 Revisited and Blonde on Blonde, and also on Steely Dan's Aja. He is extensively featured playing a virtuoso performance of gospel piano on Don McLean's single, "American Pie", and Paul Simon's "Tenderness". He is credited as co-author of the song "The Fez" on Steely Dan's The Royal Scam. He was an arranger for The Warriors (1979) and Four Friends (1981) and performed in On Location: Robert Klein at Yale (1982) and on the soundtrack for Blue Sunshine (1976). He died of a heart attack at his home in New York at the age of 62, suffering from complications of diabetes. He was awaiting a liver transplant at the time of his death.

Recordings

With Bob Dylan With Dion DiMucci With George Benson With Tom Rush With Wilson Pickett With Michael Franks With John Denver With Peter, Paul and Mary With Al Kooper With David Clayton-Thomas With Gloria Loring With Melba Moore With LaVern Baker With Janis Siegel With Solomon Burke With Jackie Lomax With Steely Dan With Marlena Shaw With Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway With John Lennon and Yoko Ono With Don McLean With Carly Simon With Roberta Flack With Judy Collins With Cheryl Lynn With Gloria Gaynor With Stephanie Mills With Donald Fagen With Yoko Ono With Van Morrison With Paul Simon With Garland Jeffreys With Aretha Franklin With Bonnie Raitt With Laura Nyro With The Free Design