Brett Tuggle

Brett Tuggle (September 23, 1951 – June 19, 2022) was an American musician who is best known for his keyboard playing with Fleetwood Mac and the David Lee Roth band.

Career Early years As a child, he studied classical piano and learned guitar and organ in his birthplace of Denver, Colorado. As a teenager, he played in local Denver bands, including "The Dimensions," "U.S. Male" and "Phaedra." When he left home, he played in touring bands in Texas, where he learned a range of traditional music styles. He then returned to Colorado where he launched the band Head First. In 1979, record producer Keith Olsen invited Tuggle to go to Los Angeles to meet an artist who needed a keyboard player.

Performing In Los Angeles, Tuggle made numerous professional contacts with bandleaders, which helped to start his touring career. He was the keyboardist for John Kay & Steppenwolf, before meeting Rick Springfield and joining his band in early 1982. He also played keyboards with David Lee Roth in Roth's post-Van Halen career 1986–1994 and briefly returned in 1997. In 1988, Tuggle co-wrote the top 10 hit single "Just Like Paradise" with Roth. In 1992, Tuggle was invited by Mick Fleetwood to be a member of the band The Zoo. Tuggle also toured with Steve Lukather from Toto. Tuggle played with Chris Isaak and Whitesnake. Rick Springfield's book Late, Late at Night states that with his touring band, "Tim on guitar, Mike Siefret on bass, Brett Tuggle on keyboards", Springfield formed a "special camaraderie" with Tuggle on the road due to their shared interest in "illicit sex" with women.

Death Brett Tuggle died on June 19, 2022, of complications related to cancer. He was 70 years old.