Editing Steely Dan (section)

==History==

===Formation and early years (1972–1974)===
Walter Becker and Donald Fagen first met in 1967 at [[Bard College]] in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, where Fagen was studying and Becker was a student musician. The two bonded over a shared love of [[jazz]], particularly the work of [[Horace Silver]], [[John Coltrane]], and [[Charles Mingus]], alongside an irreverent affection for classic rock and R&B.<ref>Breithaupt, Don & Jeff. ''Aja''. Continuum, 2007.</ref>

After relocating to New York City and briefly working as staff songwriters for [[ABC-Dunhill Records]], Becker and Fagen moved to [[Los Angeles]], where they assembled a touring band. The original lineup included guitarist [[Jeff "Skunk" Baxter]], guitarist Denny Dias, drummer Jim Hodder, and vocalist David Palmer. The name "Steely Dan" was taken from a steam-powered dildo in [[William S. Burroughs]]' novel ''[[Naked Lunch]]'' (1959), reflecting the duo's literary sensibility and fondness for provocation.<ref>Burroughs, William S. ''Naked Lunch''. Olympia Press, 1959.</ref>

The band's debut album, ''[[Can't Buy a Thrill]]'' (1972), produced by [[Gary Katz (record producer)|Gary Katz]], reached #17 on the [[Billboard 200]] and yielded two Top 20 singles: "[[Do It Again (Steely Dan song)|Do It Again]]" and "[[Reelin' in the Years]]."<ref>''Billboard'' chart archives, 1972–1973.</ref>

===Studio evolution (1974–1977)===
By the mid-1970s, Becker and Fagen had grown weary of touring and resolved to operate exclusively as a studio entity. Beginning with ''[[Pretzel Logic]]'' (1974), they began assembling pools of elite session musicians for each recording rather than maintaining a fixed band—a practice that became their trademark.<ref>Fagen, Donald. "The Steely Dan Story." ''Musician'', 1985.</ref> ''Pretzel Logic'' contained the duo's only US #1 single, "[[Rikki Don't Lose That Number]]," which interpolated the melody from [[Horace Silver]]'s "Song for My Father."

''[[Katy Lied]]'' (1975) and ''[[The Royal Scam]]'' (1976) deepened the group's jazz and funk influences, with ''The Royal Scam'' featuring prominent guitar work from [[Larry Carlton]]. The albums cemented Steely Dan's reputation for dense, intricate arrangements and mordant lyrics exploring themes of decadence, failed idealism, and the American dream.<ref>Wild, David. ''Steely Dan: Reelin' in the Years''. Omnibus Press, 1996.</ref>

The group's commercial and artistic peak arrived with ''[[Aja (album)|Aja]]'' (1977), widely considered one of the finest albums in popular music history. Recorded over two years with more than 40 session musicians, ''Aja'' reached #3 on the Billboard 200 and won the [[Grammy Award for Best Engineered Recording, Non-Classical]] and the [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year]].<ref>Grammy Archive, 1978 ceremony.</ref> The album's sophisticated production, featuring musicians such as [[Wayne Shorter]], [[Joe Sample]], and [[Steve Gadd]], set a new standard for studio pop.

===Later albums and hiatus (1977–1981)===
''[[Gaucho (album)|Gaucho]]'' (1980), recorded under notoriously troubled conditions—including a studio fire, a plagiarism lawsuit, and Becker's personal struggles with addiction—was nonetheless a commercial success, reaching #9 on the Billboard 200.<ref>Browne, David. ''Entertainment Weekly'', 2000.</ref> However, the strain of its protracted creation led Becker and Fagen to dissolve Steely Dan in 1981. Fagen pursued a solo career, releasing ''[[The Nightfly]]'' (1982) to widespread acclaim.

===Reunion and late career (1993–present)===
Becker and Fagen reunited for a concert tour in 1993, their first performances together since the early 1970s. After further touring throughout the decade, they recorded ''[[Two Against Nature]]'', released in February 2000. The album received rapturous reviews and won four Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year—a decision that generated considerable controversy, as fellow nominees included [[Beck (musician)|Beck]]'s ''Mutations'' and [[Radiohead]]'s ''Kid A''.<ref>Grammy Archive, 2001 ceremony.</ref> A follow-up, ''[[Everything Must Go (Steely Dan album)|Everything Must Go]]'', appeared in 2003.

Walter Becker died on September 3, 2017, following complications from esophageal cancer. Fagen subsequently continued performing as Steely Dan with a touring band.<ref>Associated Press, September 3, 2017.</ref>