James Jamerson
James Jamerson ( born January 29, 1936 on Edisto Iceland, South Carolina, USA; † August 2, 1983 in Los Angeles ) was an American bass player. In particular, he was one of the most important session musicians of the Detroit soul record label Motown Records.
Biography
James Jamerson unites two apparent opposites: on the one hand he is one of the little-known, on the other hand, but certainly the most influential bass players in the history of pop music.
Jamerson began with the bass playing during his high school years in Detroit, first as bassist, and played in the Detroit jazz scene. Due to its high ability and zeal he was soon one of the most sought after bass players in the city. This resulted in his way then to Berry Gordy's Motown Records, where he was hired in 1964 as a permanent studio bassist. The studio band called The Funk Brothers, it was as such but only decades later - after Jamersons death - by the book and the film Standing in the Shadows of Motown known.
Jamersons work with Motown Records explains the above contrast: by its position as the most sought after studio bassist at Motown did it come about that Jamerson played on countless successes - including Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, the Supremes ( Baby Love ) and Stevie Wonder - and because of its innovative, unique bass playing the songs of the stars had a decisive effect. His bass lines, meanwhile, played mainly on a '62 Fender Precision Bass were known throughout the world and had great influence on the global development of bass playing. A special feature of his technique was that he struck the strings with one finger, the index finger, earning him the nickname " The Hook " earned.
Master of the instrument, such as John Entwistle, Rocco Prestia, Pino Palladino, John Patitucci, Paul McCartney, Marcus Miller: Perhaps the best testimony of the impact that Jamerson has had on the international bassist world, two CDs of Bass School Standing in the Shadows of Motown are and many more have felt it an honor to be part of this school bass and therefore provided their services in the form of recordings Jamersonscher bass lines free of charge.
All this posthumous honor in defiance Jamerson was during his lifetime a little-known bassist. John Entwistle, bassist for the band The Who, describes this aptly when he says, it had thrilled all this music, but he had never heard the name Jamerson. For him he was "the guy who played bass for Motown ." Since Jamerson had become almost indispensable for Motown due to his musical skills and his contracts tied him to Motown, was Jamersons life, with the exception of some club gigs in Detroit and the surrounding area, mostly of recording sessions in the shadow of the stars. At the time it was not even customary to mention the -indicating musicians on a plate by name. Consequently, Jamerson was a virtually unknown during his career.
1972 moved Motown to Los Angeles and took the Funk Brothers, not least on the lookout for a new style, not with. Although James Jamerson was still in demand as a exceptional artist like no other, and he also worked in LA long a time as a freelance musician, his career was near the end. Even in Detroit Jamersons had started strong alcohol problem which he has never come to grips with. His alcoholism led to restrictions on his musical skills, causing him to get less and less studio appointments. These problems - the loss of long -time associate, the Funk Brothers, the uncertain and unfamiliar job situation as a freelance musician who ever lack of fame and the move to a new city - let Jamerson still more to sink into his addiction. After admission to hospital, due to physical and mental health problems James Jamerson died in 1983, at the age of 47 years. In 2000, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Equipment
- Fender Precision Bass from 1957, "The Black Beauty", Jamerson was stolen
- Fender Precision Bass from 1962, " The Funk Machine", in a three-color sunburst finish, was stolen from him shortly before his death
- Bass German brand, bought in 1957 after finishing school - the only bass he has ever had
- Achtsaitiger Bass Swedish brand Hagstrom
- Ampeg "B -15" Bass Combo Amplifier
- Amplifier Kustom brand with a 2x15 "bass speaker cabinet for great performances