Career
Born in Bell, California, in 1940, Knechtel"s musical education began with piano lessons. In 1957, he joined the Los Angeles-based rock and roll band Kip Tyler and the Flips. After four years on the road with the band, and continuing to work with Eddy in the recording studio, Knechtel became part of the Los Angeles session musician scene, working with Philosophy Spector as a pianist to help create Spector"s famous "Wall of Sound".
He also played the piano on Johnny Rivers" 1972 hit "Rockin" Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu".
Knechtel was proficient in other musical instruments, notably the harmonica and the electric bass guitar, which can be heard on "Mr. Tambourine Manitoba" by the Byrds, "Stoney End" by Barbra Streisand, "If I Can Dream" by Elvis Presley, and on tracks by the Doors (who did not have their own bass guitarist).
In 1971, he joined the band Bread, where his contributions include the guitar solo on the hit single "The Guitar Manitoba". He also played on sessions for Nancy Sinatra.
During the late 1980s, Knechtel moved to Nashville, where he was signed to a solo recording contract.
He released two solo albums, Mountain Moods and Urban Gypsy, in quick succession in 1990. In later years, Knechtel lived in semi-retirement in Yakima, Washington, until his death. Knechtel died on August 20, 2009, in Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, Washington, at the age of 69 of an apparent heart attack.