“The guitar player got caught in a snowstorm and couldn’t get down for the gig. They were looking for somebody and I said, ‘I know all that stuff’”: Jeff “Skunk” Baxter went to a James Brown gig – and had to step in as his sideman at the last minute

Jeff “Skunk” Baxter performs at Living History Live: Jeff “Skunk” Baxter at The GRAMMY Museum on December 08, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.

Jeff “Skunk” Baxter may be best known for his stints in Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, and Spirit, but the versatile guitarist also lent his electric guitar chops to the who’s who of the music industry – including Dolly Parton, Donna Summer, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Gene Simmons... the list goes on.

It’s safe to say these varying gigs required him to develop a (to put it mildly) well-rounded playing style – and one that would result in him landing a tour with James Brown back in 1986.