This is James Jamerson, the Boss of Bass.
James who?
I have to admit that i was ashamed myself that i didn’t know dude untill i heard it through the grapevine had bought that DVD that told the story of Motown Records Houseband, the Funk Brothers, two years ago. But by the time i learned who he was and what he had done for soul music, i started telling people. This guy played the Bass on all Motown Hitrecords. Yes, ALL. And he did so with his index finger only, dubbed ‘The Hook’. Of course he got fucked over by the label for everything: proper money, fame, credits, legacy, limelight, oh and dont get me started with royalties. This dude was a fucking genius. By the time you`ll realize how many of his catchy basslines you`ve danced to (and had other things going), you may wanna start to cry. He was born on January, 29, 1938 in Charleston, South Carolina and died on August, 2, 1982, in L.A., at the age of only 45 years, deeply depressed and wrecked by alcohol abuse. In 2000 he was accepted to the Rock’n'Roll Hall of Fame.
So, next time you wiggle your ass to ANY of Jackson Five`s Hits, when you get laid to a Marvin Gaye Song, or you listen to Stevie Wonders’ or Supremes Songs of the Motown Era, try to feel the bass and lift your glass to the memory of the Boss of Bass, James fucking Jamerson.
And now lean back, click the videos and enjoy his beautiful work. AND TURN UP THAT BASS!
The Funk Brothers and Chaka Khan ‘Whats Going on’
