American songwriter
Spooner Oldham
Oldham in 2009 in Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Birth name Dewey Lindon Oldham, Jr. Born (1943-06-14 ) June 14, 1943 (age 80) Center Star, Alabama Genres Occupation(s) Instrument(s) Years active 1960s–present Website spooneroldhammusic.com
Musical artist
Dewey Lindon Oldham, Jr. "Spooner Oldham" (born June 14, 1943)[1] [2] songwriter and session musician . An organist , he recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama , at FAME Studios as part of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section on such hit R&B songs as Percy Sledge 's "When a Man Loves a Woman ", Wilson Pickett 's "Mustang Sally ", and Aretha Franklin 's "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You) ". As a songwriter, Oldham teamed with Dan Penn to write such hits as "Cry Like a Baby " (the Box Tops ), "I'm Your Puppet " (James and Bobby Purify ), and "A Woman Left Lonely" and "It Tears Me Up" (Percy Sledge ).[3]
Biography
Oldham is a native of Center Star, Alabama , United States.[4] [5]
Oldham started his career in music by playing piano in a Dixieland jazz band while at Lauderdale County High School .[6] University of North Alabama but turned instead to playing at FAME Studios.[7] Chips Moman 's American Studios.[8]
Oldham later moved to Los Angeles and has continued to be a sought-after backing musician, recording and performing with such artists as Bob Dylan , Aretha Franklin , Delaney Bramlett , Willy DeVille , Joe Cocker , the Hacienda Brothers , Linda Ronstadt , Jackson Browne , the Everly Brothers , Bob Seger , Dickey Betts , Cat Power , J.J. Cale , Frank Black , and The Mountain Goats .[7]
Frequently a backing musician for Neil Young ,[7] Harvest Moon Neil Young: Heart of Gold Crosby Stills Nash & Young on their 2006 Freedom of Speech tour.[9]
In 1993, he joined a host of Memphis soul music veterans to record Arthur Alexander 's comeback and un-intended final studio recording, the album Lonely Just Like Me [10] [11] [12]
In 2007, Oldham toured with the Drive-By Truckers on their The Dirt Underneath tour. In 2008, Oldham played on Last Days at the Lodge Amos Lee . In May 2011, Oldham backed Pegi Young on a six-show tour of California.
Awards
Oldham was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009 as a sideman. In 2014, he was inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame .[13]
Solo album
Pot Luck (Family Productions, 1972)[14]
Collaborations
With Arthur Alexander
1962: You Better Move On (Dot Records )
1993: Lonely Just Like Me (Elektra) With Shelby Lynne
With Steve Cropper
Dedicated – A Salute to the 5 Royales (429 Records, 2011)With Neil Young
With Billy Ray Cyrus
The SnakeDoctor Circus (BBR, 2019)With Rita Coolidge
With Linda Ronstadt
With Wilson Pickett
With John Prine
With Jennifer Warnes
With Aretha Franklin
With Dan Penn
Nobody's Fool (Bell Records, 1973)Do Right Man (Sire Records, 1994)Moments From This Theatre (Proper American, 1999)[15] Something About the Night (Dandy Records, 2016)With Frank Black
With Jewel
With Bob Seger
With Jackson Browne
With Tony Joe White
With Sheryl Crow
Threads With J. J. Cale
With Amos Lee
With Josh Groban
With Maria Muldaur
Maria Muldaur Waitress in a Donut Shop (Reprise Records, 1974)With Bob Dylan
Saved With Keith Richards
With Boz Scaggs
With Peter Parcek
Mississippi Suitcase (Lightnin' Records, 2020)[16] 
