Not only has he been Mark Knopfler’s go to guitar player in the studio and on the road since 1994 (and still is,) but he spent almost seventeen years (1971-1987) as Neil Diamond’s guitar player before that. That’s two full careers for just about any other player; you’d think that would be about enough. But from almost the moment a teenage Richard Bennett hit Los Angeles – after taking the necessary time for birth and learning to walk in Chicago and for high school in Phoenix, Arizona – he has been in demand as a session player whose rep among his fellow players is as impressive as his track record – and record of tracks; his first session work coming during summer vacation while still in high school, courtesy of his friend and mentor, Wrecking Crew member Al Casey.