Today’s Song of the Day, “Green Onions” by Booker T and M.G.’s, is one of the most instantly recognizable instrumental songs in the world. The song started as a loose Stax Records studio jam and was first recorded as a b-side in 1962. After being pushed by a Memphis DJ it went on to sell millions of copies and appeared in various movies including “American Graffiti.”

Donald “Duck” Dunn, the MG’s bass player, did not play on the original (an original member of the Mar-Keys, he didn’t join the band until 1965) but he does appear in this video. He and late drummer Al Jackson were probably the greatest soul/funk rhythm section ever, and the fact that they were multi-racial (in 1960’s Tennessee) means that they were groundbreaking in other ways as well.

Donald “Duck” Dunn passed away at the age of 70, on the morning of May 13, 2012. He’d just finished playing 5 nights of shows at a club in Tokyo. RIP.

Enough reading, listen to this and try not to tap your feet –
http://youtu.be/U-7QSMyz5rg