LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Renowned pedal steel guitarist and Neil Young sideman Ben Keith has died at the Broken Arrow Ranch after suffering a heart attack. He was 73.
Born in Fort Riley, Kansas in 1937 as Bennett Keith Schaeufele, Keith worked as a session musician, eventually becoming a fixture in the Nashville country scene in the 1950s and early 1960s. Among Keith's best known recordings during this period was his steel guitar work on Patsy Cline's 1961 hit "I Fall to Pieces".
Keith is best know for his work with Neil Young, starting with Young's seminal 1971 "Harvest" before going on to perform on over a dozen albums and multiple tours with Young, as well as landing a role (Grampa Green) in Young's feature film "Greendale".
Keith's later work was not limited to Young however, and he also performed with other artists including Todd Rundgren, Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Paul Butterfield, Linda Ronstadt and Warren Zevon among others.
Keith was survived by his daughter Heidi, and his grandchildren DJ, Rachel, James, Meredith, Aubrey, Fletcher and Caroline. – CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
