Happy Birthday Skunk and Nuge
Today happens to be the birthday of two of rock’s most interesting characters. Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter and Ted Nugent were both born on this day in 1948.
Jeff Baxter was a founding member of my all-time favorite group, Steely Dan. He went on to play with another successful group, the Doobie Brothers and has been a sought-after studio musician in the years since. I saw him playing with the Doobie Brothers when they came to Blacksburg Virginia. I would guess this would have been some time around 1978.
Ted Nugent has had a long solo career and frequently declared that he did not drink or use tobacco or marijuana. A member of the Board of Directors of the NRA, he is frequently in the news espousing conservative views and support for gun and hunting rights. At one time, he was thinking about a career in politics and, more specifically, a run for the US senate from Illinois. He currently lives in Texas, so I doubt we will see him mentioned as a Candidate in Blagogate.
Ted Nugent
Jeff Baxter is another interesting character, but you are much less likely to hear about him. I remember him at the Doobie Brothers concert at Cassell Coliseum on the campus of Virginia Tech. He spent the entire concert playing his guitar, sitting on a stool, wearing headphones. Not exactly the consummate entertainer, but a real commitment to the music.
Baxter’s second career has been as a self-taught defense consult on matters relating to missile defense. He has had contracts with the Department of Defense and intelligence agencies, and companies such as SAIC and Northrop Grumman.
Jeff Baxter
Happy Birthday to two great musicians and entertainers.