Grammy Award-winning musician Larry Knechtel, a member of soft rock group Bread and an accompanist for top artists spanning Elvis Presley to the Dixie Chicks, has died at the age of 69.

The California-born keyboardist, bass guitarist and harmonica player died in a Washington state hospital Thursday after apparently suffering a heart attack.

Knechtel, based in Yakima, Wash., since 2003, grew to fame as a member of the Wrecking Crew — a group of talented and versatile Los Angeles studio musicians who backed top acts of many different musical genres during the 1960s and were inducted into Nashville's Musicians Hall of Fame in 2007. Other members included guitarist Tommy Tedesco, drummer Hal Blaine and bass guitarist Carol Kaye.

He played both live and as a studio musician with a wide range of artists over the years, including Presley, the Beach Boys, Neil Diamond, the Mamas & the Papas, Ray Charles and Hank Williams Jr.

Knechtel won a Grammy for arranging the Simon and Garfunkel song Bridge over Troubled Water — for which he also played piano — and joined soft rockers Bread in 1971.

More recently, he played keyboard on the Dixie Chicks' acclaimed album Taking the Long Way, also joining the band for the accompanying tour in 2006.

"Larry's resumé is a history lesson in great American music all unto itself," the Dixie Chicks said on their website.

"The term 'legendary musician' isn't an overstatement when talking about a multi-instrumentalist who can be heard on some of music's most legendary recordings."

Survivors include Knechtel's wife, children and grandchildren.

With files from The Associated Press