Sad day for me. This is one of my favorite non R & B bands.
I've told this story, but years ago in the summer of 1973 I was playing in bands here in NY and I got word that Steely Dan was to play in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. For free. Just 2 or 3 blocks from my then stomping grounds. About 6 of us walked up to the small grandstand and noticed a set up not on the bandshell, but on the ground in front. There were no more than 25 to 3o people in a small semi-circle waiting for the band to show. We couldn't believe the lack of turnout. After all, "Reelin' In The Years" was in regular rotation on the radio. We started to doubt it would actually be Steely Dan. Yet it was. They played "Hey Nineteen", "Reelin'", "Do It Again", I believe "My Old School", and about 4 others. "Skunk" Baxter was the second guitarist, not Elliot Randall. One of the really great rock music days of my life. RIP Walter, you're in a better band now.