Remembering Barry Beckett, a quiet musical legend.

Music lovers everywhere, especially here in Alabama, suffered a tremendous loss last week with the death of Barry Beckett. Mr. Beckett was keyboardist for the legendary four-member Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, immortalized in the lyrics of Lynyrd Skykyrd's Sweet Home Alabama as "The Swampers."

I never got to meet Mr. Beckett, but I did get to sit down with two of his partners, David Hood and Roger Hawkins, as part of our series of Web interviews for The Year of Alabama Arts.

If you've got a few minutes, check out this YouTube playlist of excerpts from an incredible chat with some incredibly humble music legends:

To hear the Rhythm Section in top form, especially Mr. Beckett's subtle but distinct piano playing, just give a listen to Paul Simon's "Kodachrome."