Spooner Oldham

Induction Year: 2009

Induction Category: Sidemen

Spooner Oldham (keyboards, vocals; born June 14, 1943)

Dewey Lyndon “Spooner” Oldham is a linchpin of the Southern soul and R&B sound. The Alabama-born musician was part of the prolific crew that made records at Rick Hall’s FAME (“Florence Alabama Music Enterprises”) Studio and Muscle Shoal Sound Studios, in the northwest corner of the state. Oldham played keyboards on such seminal soul songs as Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman,” Wilson Pickett’s “Mustang Sally,” Arthur Alexander’s “You Better Move On,” and “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You),” Aretha Franklin’s historic first recording for Atlantic Records. He was a co-founder of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, whose other members were guitarist Jimmy Johnson, bassist David Hood and drummer Roger Hawkins. When Oldham moved to Memphis, he brought in his own replacement, keyboardist Barry Beckett.
In 1967 Oldham resumed his songwriting partnership with singer/guitarist Dan Penn at Chips Moman’s American Studios in Memphis. Oldham has written a brace of soul classics with Penn, including James and Bobby Purify’s “I’m Your Puppet,” James Carr’s “The Dark End of the Street,” the Box Tops’ “Cry Like a Baby,” and Janis Joplin’s “A Woman Left Lonely.” The duo estimate that they’ve written between 400 and 500 songs together.
A subsequent move to Los Angeles found Oldham recording with a variety of artists across the stylistic spectrum, including , Linda Ronstadt, Gene Clark, Ry Cooder, the Flying Burrito Brothers and many others. He played on Bob Dylan’s Saved album and added his churchy, soulful keyboards to Dylan’s Saved and Shot of Love tours. He’s also and recorded with in a relationship that dates back more than a quarter century.
In 1994 Spooner Oldham and Dan Penn came together as a duo for some live shows, following the release of Penn’s solo album, Do Right Man. It was their first time onstage together in 25 years. They have occasionally toured as a duo since then, performing highlights from their vast catalog of Southern soul classics. A 1998 tour of Britain resulted in the live album Moments from This Theatre. In 2006 Oldham backed up Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young on a tour where they performed Young’s politically themed Freedom of Speech album in its entirety. He has also recorded or toured with such alternative acts as the Drive-By Truckers, Frank Black, Bushwalla and Cat Power.

TIMELINE

June 14, 1943: Dewey Lyndon “Spooner” Oldham is born in Center Star, Alabama.

1960: Spooner Oldham writes his first hit, “Is a Blue Bird Blue,” which reaches #35 on the pop charts.

1965: Spooner Oldham and Dan Penn write “Let’s Do It Over,” their first recorded songwriting collaboration. It becomes a #13 R&B hit for Joe Simon on the Vee-Jay label.

1967: Spooner Oldham moves to Memphis to work at Chips Moman’s American Studios. He and guitarist Dan Penn cement a songwriting partnership that yields numerous rock, soul and R&B classics.

1977: Spooner Oldham is enlisted to play keyboards on sessions for ’s Comes a Time album, inaugurating a lengthy relationship between Oldham and Young.

February 1980: Bob Dylan’s Saved album, featuring Spooner Oldham on keyboards, is released. Oldham will be part of Dylan’s touring band in 1980 and 1981.

1994: Spooner Oldham and Dan Penn perform onstage together in support of the latter’s Do Right Man album. Over the years the duo will periodically reunite for live performances.

1998: Spooner Oldham and Dan Penn tour England with headliner Nick Lowe. A live album, Moments from This Theatre, is released. It is re-released in 2006 to coincide with another U.K. tour.

2006: Spooner Oldham joins Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young for their Freedom of Speech Tour and performs with in the Heart of Gold concert film, shot at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

2007: Spooner Oldham tours with the Drive-By Truckers on their The Dirt Underneath Tour.

April 4, 2009: Spooner Oldham is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the 24th annual dinner. Paul Shaffer is his presenter.

RECOMMENDED TRACKS

1. I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You), by Aretha Franklin
2. When a Man Loves a Woman, by Percy Sledge
3. Mustang Sally, by Wilson Pickett
4. You Better Move On, by Arthur Alexander
5. Cry Like a Baby, by the Box Tops
6. I’m Your Puppet, by James and Bobby Purify
7. Dark End of the Street, by James Carr
8. Sweet Inspiration, by the Sweet Inspirations
9. Out of Left Field, by Percy Sledge
10. Do Right Woman, Do Right Man, by Aretha Franklin

RECOMMENDED READING

Hasted, Nick. “Penn & Oldham: Good Ol’ Boys in the Hood.” The Independent, November 1999.

Hutton, Joss. “Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham #1: Spend a Little Time With the Old Folks.” Bucketful of Brains, 1999.

Hutton, Joss. “Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham #2: Memphis, Women and Chicken.” Bucketful of Brains, 1999.