Late Viola Player Never Knew She Was Now Included In The Last Beatles Track

A viola player died without being aware that she was on the “final” Beatles song.

Erika Buckman, the mother of a late viola player named Caroline Buckman, spoke about how she felt after knowing that her daughter is heard on “Now and Then,” the “final song” from the Beatles.

11 months before her death due to breast cancer, Caroline Buckman took part in a concealed project (particularly in string section) alongside other musicians who were being given a short notice for a three-hour recording session which took place in April 2022. Although the room of musicians was very much aware that they’d be working for Paul McCartney, they were not given the exact details of the project and were only given a music sheet entitled “Give & Take” as an undercover.

McCartney was present the whole time and spent time with the musicians. He was posing for pictures and signing autographs as one artist recalled. The artist even mentioned that when McCartney was asked if he wanted to sit in the mixing room, McCartney replied:

“No, this is where the magic happens… I just wanna sit here and enjoy it.”

In the past, Buckman has worked with Star Trek, Star Wars, Breaking Bad and also with other big names in music like Brian Wilson, Neil Young, and R.E.M. Despite that, Buckman never asked for an autograph from these names said her boyfriend, Mitch Brown. It was only McCartney whom she let sign her sheet music. Brown recalled:

“In her entire career, she’d never asked a colleague for an autograph. She was super-thrilled. She said, ‘I played with Paul McCartney today.’”

Meanwhile, Buckman’s mom recalled the surprise phone call she got from her daughter confirming that she would be included in the later-revealed “Now and Then.”

“You’re going to make me cry,” that’s the first expression that her daughter got. She also strongly believes that Caroline “would have been delirious about it. (fallsgrovedentistry.com) It is sad… but I’m very proud.”

“Now and Then” was only revealed to the bereaved family once the song was finally released.