Many people mourn the loss of iconic entertainers.

These entertainers had support from some incredible back up session players.
Lasse Wellander was the main back up guitarist for Swedish super group ABBA.
He died 12 months ago today, 7th April 2023.

Lasse Wellander started his guitar playing career in the early 60's.
Later, he started playing with a group from Örebro called Blues Quality. When that band split up, the remaining members became the nucleus of Nature, which was the backing band on Polar-recording artist Ted Gärdestad’s summer tour of 1973, 1974 and 1976.
That’s how Lasse came to know Björn and Benny.
His first ABBA session was in October 1974 when Intermezzo No.1 and Crazy World were recorded. Lasse soon became the main guitarist on ABBA’s albums, and toured with them in 1975, 1977, 1979 and 1980.
He continued working with Björn and Benny in the post-ABBA period. He appeared on the Chess concept album, the two Gemini albums, the 1993 Josefin Nilsson album Shapes and on the soundtracks to Mamma Mia! The Movie and its sequel, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again.
Lasse also played on the Agnetha Fältskog albums Wrap Your Arms Around Me from 1983 and My Colouring Book from 2004 and on the ABBA album Voyage released in 2021.
Besides being one of the most frequently used Swedish session musicians, Lasse has also released seven solo albums, two of which entered the Top 40 album charts in the mid-1980s. In 1992, he had a big radio hit with his instrumental version of the Chess song Anthem. In 2005, he received the Albin Hagström Memorial Award from The Royal Swedish Academy of Music and, in 2018, the Swedish Musicians Union’s prestigious special prize Studioräven Award for his work as a session musician. In 2017, Lasse recorded and produced new music under his own name again.

Lasse Wellander - In the Hall of the Mountain King​

Speaking of session musicians, there are two great documentaries to watch if you are a lover of music from the 60s to the 80s. With unmatched talent and skills, the great session musicians of their day were the real unsung musical superstars.

"The Wrecking Crew", is about the California session musicians known as The Wrecking Crew; Tommy Tedesco, Carol Kaye, Glen Campbell and many others. The first time I watched it I was astonished to find out that it was pretty much the same small group of session musicians that played on almost every famous recording of that era, creating a unique sound for them all.

Same goes for "Muscle Shoals". It documents the famous Muscle Shoals sound and the Swampers that played on practically every southern rock, blues and R&B recording of the time. They were immortalized in the last verse of the Lynyrd Skynyrd song "Sweet Home Alabama".

Now Muscle Shoals has got the Swampers
And they've been known to pick a song or two (yes, they do)

Click to expand...

The Wrecking Crew is currently available (free) on multiple streaming services, Prime Video, Vudu, Tubi, Plex, Peacock, etc.
Muscle Shoals is currently available (free) on kanopy and Plex.

There's a similar documentary about backup singers called "20 Feet from Stardom".

He is a super talented musician. I was amazed at his song wiring abilities. This song, off one of his solo albums, highlights his talents.