The bass guitarist bob babbitt, who has died of brain cancer aged 74, was one of the last surviving members of the funk brothers, that exclusive club comprising a dozen or so session musicians who. Bank house books are proud to announce that one of the greatest characters in the music business, motown legend and. Bass player presents the funky bass book by bill leigh. Alans book primarily dealt with the original motown bassist, james jamerson, babbitts predecessor and probably one of the most lauded bassist ever. Carrying the jamerson torch motown s low end funk brother takes time out with rick suchow to talk about james jamersons recent induction into the fender hall of fame, as well as his own long and legendary career. Love attack, spandisco, running like a rabbit, gospel truth, biography. Babbitt passed away yesterday july 16 after he lost his ongoing fight with brain cancer. Now that the legend of motown s anonymous sidemen, known as the funk brothers, has finally unfolded thanks to a landmark article titled standing in the shadows of motown by writer nelson george, and a subsequent book and film of the same name by alan slutsky bob babbitt is finally getting some long overdue and well deserved recognition. He is known for his work on standing in the shadows of motown. Bob babbitt was a member of the funk brothers, the uncredited session group behind.
Jul 18, 2012 babbitt also wrote a book, awareness guide. Detroit ap bob babbitt, who played bass on many classic motown records as a member of the ensemble known as the funk brothers. Motowns bassist bob babbitt succumbs to brain cancer. Although babbitt is a fine bassist and one of my favorites, its surprising berry gordie allowed anyone but jamerson to record the tracks. Bob then studied for three years with the principle bassist for the pittsburgh. They and other session musicians, informally known as the funk brothers, played on hundreds of recordings by different artists, without credit. Jul 17, 2012 prominent motown studio musician and funk brothers member bob babbitt, whose bass playing pounded through the temptations hit ball of confusion and marvin gayes mercy mercy me the ecology. Commonly recognized for his work at motown s hitsville studio a, bob babbitt s career as a session player took him to a wide range of places, including the music hubs of new. Bank house books are proud to announce that one of the greates.
Geddy lee, bob babbitt, rocco prestia, jack bruce, nathan watts and many. Challenged athletes foundation ironman hall of fame. Bob babbitt born robert kreiner, a member of motown s original funk brothers, played on more than 200 billboard top 40 hits in his recording career for motown and other labels. Detroit ap bob babbitt, who played bass on many classic motown records as a member of the. Motown s legendary funk brothers and members of philadelphias world renowned mfsb take you back in the day with an album filled with classic philly and motown hits. The film showed that the funk brothers and bob babbitt were the heart and soul of the motown sound. He got his first music work freelancing around detroit in the mid1960s and joined stevie wonders touring band in 1966. I asked bob how was his relationship with james jamerson, and how hard it was for him to take over the bass position, following a legend like james.
Standing in the shadows of motown, based on an earlier book he had. May 10, 2010 bob babbitt was a bassist, most famous for his work as a member of motown records studio band, the funk brothers, from 19661972, as well as his tenure as part of mfsb for philadelphia. Brown, and then bob just dropped that bass solo in. Motown bassist bob babbitt bass frontiers magazine. They and other session musicians, informally known as the funk brothers, played on hundreds of recordings by different artists, without credit and with scanty financial compensation. Motown museum chief curator lina stephens says the bassist died monday in nashville, tenn. May 09, 2014 babbitt eventually made his way to nashville, a city that continued to have a thriving session scene, and in the 2000s, began touring with the remaining funk brothers following the release of standing in the shadows of motown.
Bob babbitt was born on november 26, 1937 in pittsburgh, pennsylvania, usa as robert kreinar. Motown bass legend bob babbitt dead at 74 cbs news. Bob babbitt biography, albums, streaming links allmusic. Bank house books are proud to announce that one of the greatest characters in the music business, motown legend and bass giant, bob babbitt is the latest to join the growing number of musical icons sharing their thoughts and their unique knowledge with the world through us. Jul 17, 2012 bob babbitt, a bassist for motown records and key accompanist to some of the recording studios biggest stars, including stevie wonder, marvin gaye and the temptations, died july 16 at a hospice. Bob babbitt bassist with jimi hendrix, motowns funk brothers. Widely known for his contributions to the motown records house band, the funk brothers, babbitt s played bass on songs such as the temptations ball of confusion, stevie wonders signed, sealed, delivered im yours and smokey. November 26, 1937 july 16, 2012 was a hungarianamerican bassist, most famous for his work as a member of motown records studio band, the funk brothers, from 1966 to 1972, as well as his tenure as part of mfsb for philadelphia international records afterwards. Also in 1968, with mike campbell, ray monette and andrew smith he formed the band scorpion. View full size associated press the funk brothers, from left.
Bob babbitt was a staff bassist at motown along with james jamerson. Detroit ap bob babbitt, who played bass on many classic motown records as a member of the ensemble known as the funk brothers, died on monday in nashville. Bob babbitt photo by bobby bankwireimage detroit ap prominent motown studio musician and funk brothers member bob babbitt, whose bass playing pounded. Funk brothers bassist bob babbitt dead at 74 rolling stone. Detroit ap prominent motown studio musician and funk brothers member bob babbitt has died.
According to sharon cobb, nashville magic examiner, bob babbitt, 74, died on monday, july 16, 2012 in nashville, tennessee. Interesting book about one of the best bass players ever who put his imprint on so many of the hits of motown records. Few bassists played on as many hits as babbitt did. The bulk of the book comprises transcriptions of many of jamersons bestloved basslines, many accompanied by a written and spoken on the audio cd introduction from wellknown bass players such as will lee, marcus miller, john patitucci, john entwistle, pino palladino, geddy lee, bob babbitt.
Prominent motown studio musician and funk brothers member bob babbitt, whose bass playing pounded through the temptations hit ball of confusion and marvin gayes mercy mercy me the. The film was based on based allan slutskys funk brothers book. Prominent bassists who recorded on the motown label included james jamerson and bob babbitt. Maybe thats what they did back then, they micd bass amps with mics that really werent made to handle bass. Bob babbitt, joe hunter, uriel jones, and eddie willis performed alongside other notable detroit session musicians, like ray monette, robert. Now jamersons work has become widely appreciated thanks to allan slutskys groundbreaking book. Hungarianamerican bassist, best known as member of motown records studio band, the funk brothers, 19661972. Babbitt did some sessions because jamerson was on a rare road gig usually with marvin gaye. Bob babbitt, base player on motown hits the boston globe. Until the 2002 awardwinning documentary standing in the shadows of motown. The film was based on allan slutskys funk brothers book.
Along with james jamerson, the two bassists were perhaps the single most recognizable component of what came to be known as the motown sound. Like his fellow brothers, the bassist bob babbitt was not credited on the. Although motown fanactics didnt know him by name, we certainly knew his sound. Jul 16, 2012 bob babbitt born robert kreiner, a member of motowns original funk brothers, played on more than 200 billboard top 40 hits in his recording career for motown and other labels. Bob babbitt, a bassist for motown records and key accompanist to some of the recording studios biggest stars, including stevie wonder, marvin gaye and the temptations, died july 16 at a hospice. Bob babbitt, a bassist for motown records and key accompanist to some of the recording studios biggest stars, including stevie wonder, marvin gaye and the temptations, died monday at a. Really neat feature of a link provided on title page of a link to many of the top bassists in the world playing his lines. This is a book about the musical genius of james jamerson.
Bob was a teddy bear of a guy, former motown engineer ed wolfrum told the detroit free press. The 100 best bass players of all time guitar world. Babbitt s son joe kreinar tells the detroit news his father had been in a hospice and had brain cancer. Born in pittsburgh, pennsylvania on 26 november 1937, babbitt moved to detroit, where he began playing. The book includes a biography of jamerson, transcriptions of his bass lines, two cds in which 26 bassists such as pino palladino, john entwistle, chuck rainey, and geddy lee speak about jamerson and play the transcriptions. He is survived by his wife, ann, two daughters and a son. Bob babbitt, bass player with funk brothers and legendary motown studio musician, has died at the age of 74. Nov 15, 2002 for decades, the dozen or so keyboardists, guitarists, bassists, drummers and percussionists who created motown s signature sounds in a tiny basement studio have been living in a few cases. A very brief history of funk music from a bassists. Standing in the shadows of motown meet your next favorite book. We all know something of jamerson and babbitt, but there were lots of other motown bassists tweed beard of legend, nate east who was on the sitsom picture and also played with certain well known west coast types. The in demandagain babbitt played on rod stewarts 2009 soulbook. Jamerson is widely regarded as the greatest bassist in pop music and.
Bank house books are proud to announce that one of the greatest characters in the music business, motown legend and bass giant, bob babbitt is the latest to join the growing number of musical icons sharing their thoughts and their unique knowledge with the. For several years now ive been touring europe mostly musicals, but sometimes motown soul style shows ahh, bliss. He is known for his work on standing in the shadows of motown 2002 and iron city blues 2008. Motown, funk brothers bassist bob babbitt dead at 74. Motown bass line bob babbit mercy mercy me the ecology with score, tab and play along duration. This is a book for those who love the music made to be heard and those who make the music to be heard. While the first bassist featured in our bass players you should know series was southern soul master duck dunn, this one takes us above the mason dixon line to the industrial city of detroit.
Bob babbitt died in july 2012 in nashville after having been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor the preceding year. Welcome to the official fan page of legendary bass player bob babbitt. Dec 19, 2016 the film showed that the funk brothers and bob babbitt were the heart and soul of the motown sound. Wellknown for decades among musicians, babbitt laid down bass lines on stevie wonders signed, sealed, delivered, along with the tears of a clown by smokey robinson and the miracles, inner city blues by gaye, and edwin starrs war. Though he began recording much earlier, bob babbitt really shone during motown. He was the uncredited bassist on most of the motown records hits in the 1960s and early 1970s motown did not list session musician credits on their releases until 1971, and is now regarded as one of the most influential bass players in modern music history. Bob babbitt november 26, 1937 july 16, 2012 age 74 born robert kreinar, he was a prominent motown studio bassist and funk brothers member. Detroit ap prominent motown studio musician and funk brothers member bob babbitt, whose bass playing pounded through the temptations hit. James jamersons double bass was a german upright acoustic bass that he bought as a teenager and later used on such motown hits as my guy by mary wells and love is like a heat wave by martha. At golden world studio bobbit worked with several of motowns moonlighting session players including keyboardists joe hunter and johnny griffith, guitarist eddie willis, drummer benny benjamin, and rock hall of fame bassist james jamerson august 2, 1983. Jamersons bass side kick at motown, bob babbitt, should be in the top 100 and hes not listed at all. Unfortunately, the music world lost bob babbitt on july 16th, 2012 at the age of 74. The film highlighted that the funk brothers played on more numberone hits than the beatles, elvis presley, the rolling stones, and the beach boys combined.
Rick suchow bob babbitt the motown legend january 2010. Bassist pseudonym person pittsburgh musiker vereinigte staaten. Lots of primary sources recounting the stories of jamersons life and his music. His tumultuous life and musical brilliance are explored in depth through hundreds of interviews, 49 transcribed musical scores, two hours of recorded allstar performances, and more than 50 rarely seen photos in this stellar tribute to. Jul 16, 2012 the bass guitar of bob babbitt remains an indelible element of the famed motown sound his melodic, jazzinspired grooves propel dozens of the most memorable hits from souls golden era, including stevie. Prominent motown studio musician and funk brothers member bob babbitt, whose bass playing pounded through the temptations hit ball of confusion and marvin gayes mercy mercy me the ecology. James lee jamerson january 29, 1936 august 2, 1983 was an american bass player. Inspired by the book standing in the shadows of motown by allan dr. That same year, babbitt released his firstever solo lp, titled gypsy from jupiter, and in 2006 he published the instructional book bob babbitt awareness guide.
Motown funk brothers get star on hollywood walk of fame. Welcome to this collection of james jamerson transcriptions. The bass guitar of bob babbitt remains an indelible element of the famed motown sound his melodic, jazzinspired grooves propel dozens of the most memorable hits from souls golden era, including stevie wonders signed, sealed, delivered, smokey robinson. July 16, 2012 nashville, tennessee session bass player that has recorded a lot of releases since 1961, rock, soul and disco, from marvin gaye to stevie wonder, temptations, jimi hendrix, alice cooper and also coproducing some albums.
Standing in the shadows of motown bassline publishing. Original funk brother recounts the great sessions at motown, philly and nashville, as well as one or two things that may surprise you. A late addition to the motown stable of regular sessioneers, babbitt spent. Bob babbitt, a pittsburghborn bassist for motown records and key accompanist to some of the recording studios biggest stars, including stevie wonder, marvin gaye and the temptations, died monday at a hospice near his home in nashville, tenn. Bob babbitt was a hungarianamerican bassist, most famous for his work as a member of motown records studio band, the funk brothers, from 1966 to 1972. As you will see in the following video interview, he is also a very kind and humble man. Motown funk brothers bassist who played on more than 200 hit records. Bob babbitt, bassist for motowns funk brothers, passes. The most important and influential bass guitarist in the 66year history of the fender precision he played, south carolinaborn, detroitraised james jamerson wrote the bible on bass line construction and development, feel, syncopation, tone, touch, and phrasing, while raising the artistry of improvised bass playing in popular music to zenith levels.
I was listening to tears of a clown recently and was sure i could hear two basses on there one playing the familiar run and one playing lower notes. Babbittville radio and breakfast with bob cofounder. I wonder how babbitt was chosen to play bass on just a handful of motown songs while jamerson was so prevalent for the vast majority of motown recordings. Funk brothers come out of motowns shadows at last the. Bob babbittunsung hero behind some of motowns greatest hits. Babbitt, a prominent motown studio musician and funk brothers bassist, died monday, july. His wife, ann kreinar, confirmed the death and said the cause was a brain tumor. Bob babbitt, bassist for motown s funk brothers, passes away bob babbitt, whose bass work can be heard on the majority of motown hits of the late 60s and early 70s, passed away on monday at a nashville hospice after suffering from brain cancer. Funk brother bob babbitt was bassist for motown local. This book contains highly detailed full or partial transcriptions of over 40 songs that legendary bassist james jamerson recorded during his career at motown.
Bob babbitt for bass players onlyfor bass players only. I dragged this over from the old forum as it just started before the move. Bob babbitt, whose bass work can be heard on the majority of motown hits of the late 60s and early 70s, passed away on monday at a nashville hospice after. When i played it back, voila, my mim jazz bass with the neck pickup favored sounded like an old motown p bass that was thumpy, full, and super punchy. Bob babbitt was a bassist who was most famous for his work as a member of motown records studio band, the funk brothers, from 19661972. Theres also some bonus motown transcriptions at the end of the book too including the bob babbitt line on band of gold and stevie wonders awesome keyboard bass line on isnt she lovely.
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