With the sudden passing of Donald "Duck" Dunn, the legendary bassist of Booker T. and the MG's on Sunday morning in Tokyo at age 70, an indelible part of creating 1960s soul was lost.

"Today I lost my best friend, the World has lost the best guy and bass player to ever live," Booker T. guitarist Steve Cropper said on his Facebook page. They were on tour in Tokyo. "Duck Dunn died in his sleep Sunday morning May 13 in Tokyo Japan after finishing 2 shows at the Blue Note Night Club."

Dunn joined Booker T. and the MG's in 1965 to replace Lewie Steinberg, the original bassist. The group was Stax Records' in-house band, and Dunn played bass on hundreds of albums for artists including Otis Redding, Bill Withers, Sam & Dave, The Staple Singers, Isaac Hayes and Wilson Pickett.

After Booker T. & the MG's disbanded in 1971, Dunn worked as a session musician on records by Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Levon Helm, Tom Petty, Jerry Lee Lewis, Muddy Waters, Peter Frampton, Rod Stewart and Robert Palmer, among others.In 1978, Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi and Paul Shaffer invited Dunn and Cropper to play in the Blues Brothers band. Dunn appeared in the 1980 cult film playing bass and smoking a pipe.

In 1992, Booker T & The MG's were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the group received a Grammy for Lifetime Achievement in 2007.

This week's mixtape is dedicated to Duck's pioneering bass-lines. Here's a selection of his finest work.

Blues Brothers "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love"

The Mar-Keys "Last Night"

Booker T & The MGs "Green Onions"

Booker T & The MG's "Medley: Sun King Et Al"

Albert King "Born Under A Bad Sign"

Otis Redding "Sittin' On The Dock Of A Bay"

Sam & Dave "Soul Man"

Wilson Pickett "In The Midnight Hour"

Stevie Nicks & Tom Petty "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around"

Otis Redding "Try A Little Tenderness"

posted by Colton Eddy on May 14, 2012