Reelin’ in the Early Years of Steely Dan

The GRAMMY Museum is pleased to present Reelin’ in the Early Years of Steely Dan, an evening of photographs, music, and conversation exploring the renowned jazz-rock band’s foundational period in early-1970s Los Angeles. 

The program draws on never-before-seen photos by Steely Dan’s legendary late audio engineer Roger “The Immortal” Nichols, offering a rare, intimate look at enigmatic songwriters Walter Becker and Donald Fagen and their associates during the making of their first three albums: Can’t Buy a Thrill (1972), Countdown to Ecstasy (1973), and Pretzel Logic (1974). Nichols also captured images of the band on one of their early tours before Becker and Fagen abandoned the road and turned Steely Dan into a studio-only project. 

The evening will feature a slideshow of Nichols’ recently unearthed in-studio and concert photos paired with period-appropriate Steely Dan tunes and reflections from a panel of Becker and Fagen’s closest collaborators: founding Steely Dan band members Denny Dias and Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, revered musicians Dean Parks and Royce Jones, ABC/Dunhill Records executive Steve Barri, and Cherokee Studios founder Bruce Robb. 

Led by moderators Jake Malooley (publisher of the Steely Dan newsletter Expanding Dan) and Cimcie Nichols (Roger Nichols’ eldest daughter), the conversation will touch on the music, studio culture, and creative alchemy of Steely Dan’s formative years that set the stage for their magnum opus, Aja (1977), as its 50th anniversary approaches.

Limited edition prints will be for sale. 

Panelists:

Denny Dias – Founding Steely Dan guitarist who played on the band’s first six studio albums. 

Jeff “Skunk” Baxter – Founding Steely Dan guitarist who contributed to the group’s first three albums before joining the Doobie Brothers. 

Dean Parks – One of L.A.’s most acclaimed session guitarists, with credits spanning five decades, including the Steely Dan albums Pretzel Logic, Katy Lied, The Royal Scam, Aja, and Two Against Nature.

Royce Jones – Vocalist and percussionist who joined Steely Dan’s expanded touring lineup in 1973 and contributed vocals to Countdown to Ecstasy.

Steve Barri – Songwriter, producer, and former head of A&R at ABC/Dunhill Records, where he championed Becker and Fagen and helped bring Can’t Buy a Thrill to life.

Bruce Robb – Producer, engineer, and cofounder of Cherokee Studios—built with the help of Roger Nichols—where Steely Dan recorded portions of Pretzel Logic.

Moderated by:

Jake Malooley – Journalist and publisher of the popular Substack newsletter Expanding Dan, which chronicles Steely Dan’s history through original and archival interviews.

Cimcie Nichols – Daughter of Roger Nichols, Nichols Estate archivist, experiential producer, certified sound therapist, and founder of the beverage company Hatchet Granny.

Archival Videos:

Produced by Roger Nichols’ daughter, filmmaker Ashlee Nichols (Artemis II, Cosmic Dawn), and his wife, producer and writer Connie Reeder Nichols (Roger Nichols Mastering, John Denver’s “Thanks To You”).

Special thanks to Penn State Abington and the Dow family for their generous support with curation of the Roger Nichols Archive.

  PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING IMPORTANT DETAILS FOR THIS EVENT:

• Only bags 9 inches x 6 inches and smaller will be allowed for this event. 
• Vinyl, memorabilia, gifts, etc. will NOT be allowed inside the building. 
• Cameras (including digital and point and shoot cameras), video cameras, and any other professional photography & videography equipment will NOT be permitted for this event. 
• NO re-entry from the Grammy Museum premises.
• Valid physical ID is necessary for check-in. 
• Tickets are non-transferrable. Reselling tickets is strictly prohibited. 

Member Check – In: 6:00pm

Nonmember Check – In / Doors: 6:30pm

Show Time: 7:00pm

BAG POLICY: please note that only bags 9 inches x 6 inches and smaller will be allowed for this event. Vinyl, memorabilia, gifts, etc. will also not be allowed inside the building.   

TICKET POLICY

The holder of this ticket is granted admission to the indicated facility for the purpose of viewing the specified event. This ticket is for use by the holder only and the holder is bound by this policy. This ticket is not transferable and may not be sold, otherwise conveyed or used for any other purpose, including promotion or commercial, without the prior written consent of The Recording Academy. If this ticket is sold, otherwise conveyed or used in violation of this policy, it will be deemed revoked and void, and its holder deemed a trespasser at all Recording Academy events. This ticket is a revocable license and admission may be refused by refunding the face amount of the ticket or ejection may occur for failure to comply with any facility rule. The holder agrees not to transmit or aid in transmitting any description, picture, recording or reproduction of the event. The holder acknowledges that the event may be captured and recorded by audio, audiovisual, and/or photographic means, and hereby grants permission to utilize the holder’s image and/or voice in any and all media now known or hereafter devised to further the interests and mission of the Recording Academy. It is unlawful to reproduce this ticket in any form. The Holder assumes all risks incidental to the event, whether occurring prior to, during or after the event, and releases the facility, management, all participants and each of their affiliates, employees, officers, directors, members, partners, owners, managers, sponsors, contractors and agents from any loss, damage or expense resulting from any such risk. The Recording Academy reserves all legal rights and remedies. Save money on ticketing fees next time by becoming a GRAMMY Museum member! More info at grammymuseum.org.

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EVENT TIME, DATE, DETAILS, & PRICE ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

IMPORTANT: PLEASE NOTE THAT TICKETS ARE NON-TRANSFERABLE AND RESELLING TICKETS IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED. 

All ticket purchases must follow the stated ticket limits listed on the ticketing page, regardless of what type of ticket was purchased. Any purchases that exceed the maximum will be adjusted, and the cost of additional ticket(s) will be refunded. This policy applies to all guests, including GRAMMY Museum members. Ticket limits per program are subject to change at any time and at the discretion of the GRAMMY Museum. All member tickets must be purchased using the member’s name, which should match the photo ID presented at check-in. Members must attend the program with their guest(s) and guests will only be allowed entry if the member is present and attending the program.