Clapton Keyboard Player Dies
Dick Sims played on 461 Ocean Boulevard
Born and rasied in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Sims was playing in clubs by age 12. From 1968 through 1972, he toured with Phil Driscol and Yurmama, appearing with Yurmama on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1971.
In 1972, he and Jamie Oldaker (a fellow member of Yurmama) worked with Bob Seger and recorded Back in ‘72 which contained the Seger classic "Turn the Page.”
Sims and Oldaker then returned to Tulsa and formed the Tulsa County Band, along with fellow Tulsa musician (and fellow member of Yurmama, Jamie Oldaker). In 1974, he was recruited to Clapton's band by fellow Tulsan, Carl Radle and recorded and toured with Clapton until 1979.
During the mid-70s, Sims (keyboards), Radle (bass) and Oldaker (drums) were pioneers of the "Tulsa Sound". Sims' playing can be heard on all of Clapton's releases from those years, including 461 Ocean Boulevard and Slowhand.
During his lengthy career, he also toured and recorded with Joan Armatrading, Peter Tosh, Stephen Stills, Pure Prairie League, Etta James, Carlos Santana, Perry Farrell and others. Sims' only solo album, Within Arms Reach, was released in 2008.
Dick Sims, 1951-2011