One of the most successful session musicians of the 1960s, Billy Strange was a member of the Wrecking Crew, the team of elite players who dominated the Los Angeles recording studios and worked on many of the biggest hits of the '60s and '70s. Strange co-wrote hits for Elvis Presley and Chubby Checker and arranged Nancy Sinatra's biggest hits in addition to lending his talents to recordings by the Beach Boys, Phil Spector, the Everly Brothers, and many more. After a brief illness, Strange died on February 22, 2012. ~ Mark Deming