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Robert "Waddy" Wachtel (born May 24, 1947 in Jackson Heights, Queens, New York City) is a Los Angeles session musician and producer, most notable for his guitar work.

Waddy learned to play the guitar at a young age, taking lessons with teacher Gene Dell (who forced him to play right-handed despite being naturally left-handed) from the ages of 9-14. He became proficient at playing all styles of guitar, including jazz, and had a natural knack for reading music.

After performing with local bands in the New York area, Waddy came to Los Angeles in 1970 to record with the Cowsills and produce their albums.

In 1970, he also served as a musician for the film score of The Poseidon Adventure, and producers asked him and the band to cameo as the actual onstage band in the dining room when the ship capsizes. Waddy can be seen in the final film during this sequence.

In 1972 he was hired by Warren Zevon to play guitar on the Everly Brothers "Stories We Could Tell" album and join them for a subsequent tour.

By 1973 he was being approached by various artists and producers to play on their albums, and hooked up with Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, playing on their first album "Buckingham Nicks".

He has appeared on hundreds of albums over the years, and has been a mainstay of the Los Angeles music scene. Among the artists and bands he has worked with are The Everly Brothers, Andrew Gold, Carly Simon, The Rolling Stones, Kim Carnes, The Church, The Motels, Bonnie Raitt, Bryan Ferry, Randy Newman, Linda Ronstadt, Maria Muldaur, Don Henley, Jackson Browne, Keith Richards, Rosanne Cash, Stevie Nicks, Melissa Etheridge, Carole King, James Taylor, Bob Seger, Iggy Pop, Steve Perry, Tom Waits, Warren Zevon, Bob Dylan, Adam Sandler and Miranda Lambert. He is featured on guitar throughout Carole King's 1975 album, Thoroughbred.

In addition, Waddy Wachtel has composed the scores for a number of films, including Joe Dirt, Up in Smoke, and Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star. He is featured prominently backing Linda Ronstadt in the 1978 film FM. In 1980, he wrote and recorded an album for producer Peter Asher with member's of Linda Ronstadt's band, including musicians Don Grolnick, Dan Dugmore, and Rick Marotta. Both the group and the album were titled Ronin.

Production credits include albums by Keith Richards, Jackson Browne, Bryan Ferry, The Church and Warren Zevon. Waddy co-wrote several songs with Zevon including "Werewolves of London," for which he wrote the opening verse (which was voted by BBC Radio 2 listeners as the greatest ever in 2004). He is mentioned in the Warren Zevon song "Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead." He performed and co-produced the first two Zevon albums, considered his classics, and was a major contributor to the Warren Zevon sound. He is much quoted throughout the new book on Zevon's life, written by Crystal Zevon, entitled I'll Sleep When I'm Dead.

The Waddy Wachtel Band [1] can be seen Monday nights at The Joint [2], on Pico Boulevard in Los Angeles. The band includes Waddy Wachtel, Brett Tuggle, Phil Jones, Rick Rosas and Jamie Savko. Recent guests who have sat in with the band: Keith Richards, Joe Walsh, Robert Plant, Jackson Browne, Neil Young, Roger Daltrey, Blondie Chaplin, and others.

Waddy has been touring with Stevie Nicks for many years, serving as her band leader, musical director, and lead guitarist. He's also appeared on each of her solo albums and on several television shows.

• Link. Biography, discography and interview. Retrieved on 15 August 2006.

• Link. Waddy Wachtel My Space page.

• Waddy Wachtel at the Internet Movie Database
• Biography at All Music Guide. Retrieved on 16 August 2006.