Plus Chuck plays a standout role on Clapton's Unplugged, which I think is EC's best selling album.

I think Chuck wins!

He also played on Clapton's 24 Nights as he did the tour with Clapton following Unplugged, and 24 Nights came from the Royal Albert Hall residency from that tour. Before they parted ways.

Add in credits, and you also have Cowboy, Aretha, MTB, Fabulous T'birds, John Hiatt, Tinsley Ellis, Aquarium Rescue Unit, Widespread Panic, George Harrison's band, Indigo Girls, Allgood, Linda Ronstadt, Train, Mule, AC/DC, Martina McBride, John Mayer. Impressive list (and by no means exhaustive).

Chuck also played in a big way on Dickey Betts' brilliant "Highway Call" album and tour.

Chuck also played in a big way on Dickey Betts' brilliant "Highway Call" album and tour.

+1

Chuck for me is the #1 piano player in RnR history....His playing alone on Jessica is for the ages then all the other contributions to so many artists. I love his solo on E Reed from Wipe the windows...just so beautiful and spacey at the same time...Highway call....I wish he was in the band when Duane was there...that would have been the ultimate band!! Piano and Organ 2 gitfiddles 2 traps and berry....ouch that would hurt so good 😉

You can add the Fabulous Thunderbird and the New School of Government Mule to that list.

I think Bill Payne and Billy Preston would we worth considering, although most of there work was in the studio,

I wish Chuck were a member of the Hall of Fame as a member of the ABB and as a sideman. At the time, I wished Chuck & Lamar had been inducted with the ABB (and there was an argument for Warren & Woody too).

His sideman credentials are hall of fame worthy.....no brainer.

Nicky Hopkins also had a great studio career.

In terms of "one hell of a ride," Ronnie Wood sure has done well. His affable personality and love for performance have led him to sit in with everyone, in addition to being a full-fledged member of 3 excellent bands.

One of the best shows I ever saw was Gov't Mule with Oteil and Chuck and I got to ride the rail about 2 feet from Chuck at The Beaumont Club in Kansas City. That's a fine memory!

One of the best shows I ever saw was Gov't Mule with Oteil and Chuck and I got to ride the rail about 2 feet from Chuck at The Beaumont Club in Kansas City. That's a fine memory!

Bet that didn't suck!

The clips I heard of the ABB tribute the Mule did with Chuck & Pearson this year was great too.

Chuck has lived a charmed life for sure. Seems like a great family man too. Plus he's got the pine forestry thing going on in his spare time. It also seems like he kept his stuff together through the wild times.

I don't know if these compare but John Hartford & Marty Stuart have/had pretty great runs.

Hartford was set for life after he wrote Gentle On My Mind, was on TV shows, was a steamboat captain, & could come & go as he pleased.

Marty Stuart played in Bill Monroe & Johnny Cash's bands, owns Clarence White's b bender telecaster, and is killing it with his band right now.

But neither got to kill it with the ABB! That I know of.

[Edited on 9/6/2017 by goodlawdy2]

Adrian Belew has had quite a run - touring with Zappa, The Talking Heads, David Bowie, and King Crimson - recording with Nine Inch Nails, and he played on both Cyndi Lauper's True Colors album and Paul Simon's Graceland. Throw in his solo career and you've got a pretty eclectic mix of work on some hugely popular projects and some highly critically acclaimed bands.

Waddy Wachtel has a pretty impressive resume as well:

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/waddy-wachtel-mn0000225644/credits

Buddy Rich was in a number of great trumpet playing bands, Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, etc, except that's not what you may call rock and roll. I was just listening to his little pep talk he gave the young musicians in his own band on You Tube. Buddy said " I've played with the greatest f*** musicians in the world! I dare you to play that way for me. You sound like f children out there. You mother f sound worse than any high school band I've ever heard. You a** can't play two f bars in the same f tempo!!! And saxophone! You've got to be kidding me. You got your Horn so far in the f bell. Are you afraid you won't be heard?? Everybody can hear you f*** clams out there. You don't need a microphone for that!"

al kooper has had a pretty wide and impressive career and in the 60's and 70's always seemed to be in the right place at the right time.

This guy had a pretty decent one!

Cozy Powell
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cozy_Powell