James Jamerson

Latest about James Jamerson

Photo of Hank CROSBY and Larry VEEDER and Joe HUNTER and James JAMERSON and Mike TERRY and FUNK BROTHERS and Benny BENJAMIN. James Jamerson Jr. attends the opening night of "Motown The Musical" at The Fisher Theatre on October 22, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan.
An inside look at James Jamerson’s 10 seminal “B-Sides”

By Chris Jisi Published

Anthony Jackson and James Jamerson Jr reveal the hidden secrets of Motown’s multi-track recordings

Bassists
Suzi Quatro in concert. September 10, 1974
How Suzi Quatro cut her teeth on Motown hit-maker James Jamerson

By Nick Wells Published

Suzi Quatro’s soul and Motown-influenced rock bass playing made her a huge star throughout the 1970s and beyond

Bassists
James Jamerson Jr. attends the opening night of "Motown The Musical" at The Fisher Theatre on October 22, 2014 in Detroit, Michigan. Photo of Hank CROSBY and Larry VEEDER and Joe HUNTER and James JAMERSON and Mike TERRY and FUNK BROTHERS and Benny BENJAMIN Studio still life of a 1992 Fender James Jamerson Tribute Precision Bass guitar, photographed in the United Kingdom.
Inside the sound and style of Motown master James Jamerson

By Chris Jisi Published

Five top low-enders with links to the bass great dissect the James Jamerson style

Bassists
Portrait of Marvin Gaye & Bass player Bob Babbitt
“Marvin Gaye was used to hearing James Jamerson, so he had me overdub a second bass part to fill out the original track”: An untold story from Motown’s Studio A. How Bob Babbitt's '65 P-Bass drove Marvin Gaye’s Inner City Blues

By Chris Jisi Published

By 1971, James Jamerson’s demons had started to affect his consistency, so Bob Babbitt was called for this Motown classic

Artists
Bass player Bob Babbitt poses during a private photo shoot on April 20, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee.
“You played on Midnight Train to Georgia? You don’t need no other credits!” How Bob Babbitt bolstered a ’70s soul classic with a touch of James Jamerson

By Chris Jisi Published

A graduate of “Motown Funk University,” Babbitt said that he took from James Jamerson, but rightly so: “he was the original”

Bassists
Bassist Chuck Rainey poses for fans during Summer NAMM Show Opening at Music City Center on July 13, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee.
“I credit half of that bassline to James Jamerson. I’ve always been proud of knowing him”: Listen to Chuck Rainey’s isolated bass on Kid Charlemagne

By Nick Wells Published

Chuck Rainey tips his hat to Motown legend James Jamerson in this 1976 Steely Dan classic

Bassists
Photos of Francis Rocco PRESTIA & Josh Smith
“Rocco Prestia could have held that 16th-note pattern in his sleep – it’s airtight” Halestorm bassist Josh Smith picks his top 5 bass albums

By Nick Wells Published

From Tower Of Power to The Beatles, Josh Smith reveals the influences that helped shape his heavy-riffing bass style with Halestorm

Music Releases
James Jamerson Motown Studios
For decades no-one even knew his name. This month, James Jamerson will have a street named after him

By Nick Wells Published

How James Jamerson became a bass guitar hero: with tributes from Jack Bruce, Suzi Quatro and Paul McCartney

Bassists
James Jamerson and Andy Taylor of Duran Duran
“That incredible musicality James Jamerson would bring to his parts – nobody wants to hear that today”: Duran Duran bass legend John Taylor on why music is becoming simpler

By Matt Parker Published

The British bass player says pop music has lost its complexity – and he understands why

Bassists
The record cover of the 1969 Dusty Springfield classic album 'Dusty In Memphis.
“Like James Jamerson, Tommy Cogbill was a take-charge guy in the studio”: Inside the recording of Son of a Preacher Man

By Chris Jisi Published

Why Dusty Springfield’s mega hit was indebted to bassist Tommy Cogbill

Bassists
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