James Jamerson
James Jamerson (c. 1965)
Background information
Born	January 29, 1938(1938-01-29) Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Origin	Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Died	August 2, 1983 (aged 45) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genre(s)	R&B, Soul
Occupation(s)	Bassist
Instrument(s)	Bass guitar, Double Bass
Years active	1958–1983
Label(s)	Motown
Associated acts	The Funk Brothers
Notable instrument(s)
1962 Fender Precision Bass

James Lee Jamerson (January 29, 1938 - August 2, 1983) was an American musician. He was the uncredited bassist on most of Motown Records' hits in the 1960s and early 1970s (Motown did not list credits on their releases until 1971), and he has become regarded as one of the most influential bass guitar players in modern music history. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Image File history File links Jamerson. ... is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nickname: Motto: Aedes Mores Juraque Curat (She cares for her temples, customs, and rights) Location of Charleston in South Carolina. ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... Detroit redirects here. ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... is the 214th day of the year (215th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... For other uses, see Soul music (disambiguation). ... Deon Rexroat of Anberlin. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified with the purpose of making music. ... A sunburst-colored Precision Bass The electric bass guitar (or electric bass; pronounced , as in base) is a bass stringed instrument played with the fingers (either by plucking, slapping, popping, or tapping) or using a pick. ... Side and front views of a modern double bass with a French bow. ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Motown Records, also known as Tamla-Motown outside of the United States, is a record label originally based out of Detroit, Michigan (Motor City, hence mo(tor)town), from where it achieved widespread international success. ... The Funk Brothers was the nickname given to a group of Detroit, Michigan session musicians who performed on the backing tracks to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until 1972, when the company moved to Los Angeles. ... The Fender Precision Bass, known as P-bass for short, is the first model of the electric bass designed by Clarence Leonidas Fender and brought to market in 1951. ... is the 29th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 214th day of the year (215th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Deon Rexroat of Anberlin. ... Motown Records, also known as Tamla-Motown outside of the United States, is a record label originally based out of Detroit, Michigan (Motor City, hence mo(tor)town), from where it achieved widespread international success. ... A sunburst-colored Precision Bass The electric bass guitar (or electric bass; pronounced , as in base) is a bass stringed instrument played with the fingers (either by plucking, slapping, popping, or tapping) or using a pick. ... The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, showing Lake Erie in the background The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, dedicated, as the name suggests, to recording the history of some of the best-known and most influential rock and...

Biography

A native of Edisto Island (near Charleston), South Carolina, Jamerson moved with his mother to Detroit, Michigan in 1954. He learned to play the double bass at Northwestern High School, and he soon began playing in Detroit area blues and jazz clubs. Edisto is a census-designated place located in Orangeburg County, South Carolina. ... Nickname: Motto: Aedes Mores Juraque Curat (She cares for her temples, customs, and rights) Location of Charleston in South Carolina. ... Official language(s) English Capital Columbia Largest city Columbia Largest metro area Columbia Area  Ranked 40th  - Total 34,726 sq mi (82,965 km²)  - Width 200 miles (320 km)  - Length 260 miles (420 km)  - % water 6  - Latitude 32° 2′ N to 35° 13′ N  - Longitude 78° 32′ W to 83... Detroit redirects here. ... Side and front views of a modern double bass with a French bow. ... Blues music redirects here. ... For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ...

Motown years

Jamerson continued performing in Detroit clubs after graduating high school, and his increasingly solid reputation started providing him opportunities for sessions at various local recording studios. Starting in 1959 he found steady work at Berry Gordy's Hitsville U.S.A. studio, home of the Motown record label. There he became a member of a core of studio musicians who informally called themselves The Funk Brothers. This small, close-knit group of musicians performed on the vast majority of Motown recordings during most of the 1960s. Jamerson's earliest Motown sessions were performed on double bass, but in the early 1960s he switched to mostly playing electric bass. Berry Gordy, Jr. ... Hitsville U.S.A, as seen in The Temptations (1998). ... The Funk Brothers was the nickname given to a group of Detroit, Michigan session musicians who performed on the backing tracks to most Motown Records recordings from 1959 until 1972, when the company moved to Los Angeles. ...

Like Jamerson, most of the other Funk Brothers were jazz musicians who had been recruited by Gordy. For many years, they maintained a typical schedule of recording during the day at Motown's small basement "Studio A" (which they nicknamed "the Snakepit"), then playing gigs in the jazz clubs at night. They also occasionally toured the U.S. with Motown artists. However for most of their career, the members of the Funk Brothers went uncredited on Motown singles and albums, and their pay was considerably less than the artists or the label received. Eventually Jamerson was put on retainer with Motown for one thousand dollars a week, which afforded him and his ever-expanding family a comfortable lifestyle.

Jamerson's discography at Motown reads as a catalog of soul hits of the 1960s and 1970s. His work includes Motown hits such as, among hundreds of others, "Shotgun" by Jr. Walker & the All Stars, "For Once in My Life" by Stevie Wonder, "Going to a Go-Go" by The Miracles, "My Girl" by The Temptations, "Dancing in the Street" by Martha and the Vandellas, "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and most of the album What's Going On by Marvin Gaye, "Reach Out I'll Be There" by The Four Tops, and "You Can't Hurry Love" by The Supremes. He is reported to have played on some 95% of Motown recordings between 1962 and 1968. He eventually performed on nearly 30 No. 1 pop hits -- surpassing the record commonly attributed to The Beatles. On the R&B charts, nearly 70 of his performances went to the top. For other uses, see Soul music (disambiguation). ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... Junior Walker (born Autry DeWalt, Jr. ... For Once in My Life is a pop song written by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden for Motown Records Jobete publishing company in 1967 (see 1967 in music). ... Stevie Wonder (born Stevland Hardaway Judkins on May 13, 1950, name later changed to Stevland Hardaway Morris),[1] is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. ... Going to a Go-Go is an album by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles. ... The Miracles (known from 1965 to 1972 as Smokey Robinson & the Miracles) are an American musical group from Detroit, Michigan, notable as the first successful group act for Berry Gordys Motown Records. ... This article is about the 1964 Temptations song. ... “Temptations” redirects here. ... Dancing in the Street is a 1964 song by Martha and the Vandellas. ... Martha and the Vandellas (known from 1967 to 1972 as Martha Reeves and the Vandellas) were one of the most successful groups in the Motown roster during the 1960s and fully active from 1960 to 1972, performing at various times doo-wop, blues, pop, rock and roll and soul. ... I Heard It through the Grapevine is a R&B/soul song written by Motown songwriter Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong. ... Whats Going On is an album by American soul singer Marvin Gaye. ... Marvin Gaye (born Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. ... Reach Out Ill Be There (also formatted as Reach Out (Ill Be There)) is a 1966 hit song recorded by The Four Tops for the Motown label. ... The Four Tops are an American vocal quartet, whose repertoire has included doo-wop, jazz, soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, and showtunes. ... You Cant Hurry Love is a 1966 hit song recorded by The Supremes for the Motown label. ... For other uses, see Supremes (disambiguation). ... The White Album, see The Beatles (album). ...

Jamerson is noted for expanding the role of the bass in popular music, which until that time largely consisted of root notes, fifths and simple repetitive patterns. By contrast, many of Jamerson's bass lines for Motown were more melodic, more syncopated, and more improvisational than had been heard before. His bass playing was considered an integral part of the "Motown Sound". Bassists from John Entwhistle to Jaco Pastorius to John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin to Billy Sheehan to Paul McCartney have claimed Jamerson as a primary influence. The root (basse fondamentale) of a chord is the note upon which that chord is perceived or labelled as built or centered, the root of a chord in root position or normal form. ... The perfect fifth or diapente is one of three musical intervals that span five diatonic scale degrees; the others being the diminished fifth, which is one semitone smaller, and the augmented fifth, which is one semitone larger. ... In popular music a bassline, also bass line, is an instrumental part, or line, which is in the bass or lowest range and thus lower than the other parts and part of the rhythm section. ... The Motown Sound is a style of soul music with distinctive characteristics, including the use of tambourine along with drums, bass instrumentation, a distinctive melodic and chord structure, and a call and response singing style originating in gospel music. ... John Alec Entwistle (October 9, 1944 – June 27, 2002) was the bass guitar player for The Who. ... John Francis Anthony Jaco Pastorius III (December 1, 1951 – September 21, 1987) was an American jazz musician and composer widely acknowledged for his virtuosity of the fretless bass,[1][2] as well as his command of varied musical styles. ... John Paul Jones (born John Baldwin on January 3, 1946 in Sidcup, Kent) is an English multi-instrumentalist musician, and was known for being the bassist, the keyboardist and the mandolinist for rock band Led Zeppelin from its inception until the bands breakup following the death of John Bonham... For the bands 1969 eponymous debut album, see Led Zeppelin (album). ... Billy Sheehan (born on 1953 March 19 in Buffalo, NY) is an American bassist known for his work with Talas, Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, Mr Big, and Niacin. ... Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942) is an Academy Award-winning English singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who first gained worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles. ...

Post-Motown career

Shortly after Motown moved their headquarters to Los Angeles, California in 1972, Jamerson moved there himself and found occasional studio work, but his relationship with Motown officially ended in 1973. He went on to perform on such 1970s hits as "Rock the Boat" (Hues Corporation), "Boogie Fever" (The Sylvers), and "You Don't Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show)" (Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr.). But as other musicians went on to use high-tech amps, round-wound strings, and simpler, more repetitive bass lines, Jamerson found himself unwilling to try new things. As Jamerson's work dried up his mental health began to decline and by the 1980's he was unable to get any serious work. Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ... The Hues Corporation was a pop and soul trio of the mid 70s. ... The Sylvers — Memphis, Tennessee natives Olympia-Ann, Charmaine, Leon, James, Edmund, Ricky, Angela, Pat and Foster — were a popular R&B and soul family group in the 1970s. ... Marilyn McCoo (September 30, 1943) is an American singer. ...

Long troubled by alcoholism, Jamerson died of complications stemming from cirrhosis of the liver, heart failure and pneumonia on August 2, 1983 in Los Angeles. He was 45 years old. He left behind a wife, Annie, three sons, James Jr., Ivey, and Derek, and a daughter Doreen. He was said to be broke and bitter about his lack of recognition by the time of his death. Alcoholism is the consumption of, or preoccupation with, alcoholic beverages to the extent that this behavior interferes with the drinkers normal personal, family, social, or work life, and may lead to physical or mental harm. ... Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrotic scar tissue as well as regenerative nodules, leading to progressive loss of liver function. ... This article is about human pneumonia. ...

Recognition

James Jamerson (as is the case with the other Funk Brothers) received little formal recognition for his lifetime contributions. In fact, it wasn't until 1971, when he was acknowledged as "the incomparable James Jamerson" on the sleeve of Marvin Gaye's What's Going On, that his name even showed up on a major Motown release. Whats Going On is an album by American soul singer Marvin Gaye. ...

Jamerson was the subject of a 1989 book by Allan Slutsky (aka "Dr. Licks") titled Standing in the Shadows of Motown. The book includes a biography of Jamerson, a few dozen transcriptions of his bass lines, and two CDs in which other professional bassists (such as John Entwistle, Will Lee, Chuck Rainey, and Geddy Lee) speak about Jamerson and play those transcriptions. Jamerson's story was also featured in the subsequent 2002 documentary film of the same title. John Alec Entwistle (October 9, 1944 – June 27, 2002) was an English bass guitarist, songwriter, singer, and horn player, who was best known as the bass guitarist for rock band The Who. ... Will Lee (born September 8, 1952) is an American musician and bassist, best known for his work on the CBS Television program, The Late Show with David Letterman as part of the CBS Orchestra. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... Geddy Lee OC is a Canadian musician best known as the lead vocalist, bassist, and keyboardist for the Canadian rock group Rush. ... Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt, in one fashion or another, to document reality. ... Standing in the Shadows of Motown is a 2002 documentary film about the story of The Funk Brothers, Motown Records primary studio band from 1959 to 1972. ...

In 2000, Jamerson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, part of the first-ever group of "Sidemen" to be so honored. To date, he is the only sideman bassist to have been inducted. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at sunset. ...

In 2004, the Funk Brothers were honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded by the Recording Academy to performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording [1]. This award is distinct from the Grammy Hall of Fame Award, which honors specific recordings rather than individuals, and...

Jamerson's equipment

James Jamerson's 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 and the Vandellas. Side and front views of a modern double bass with a French bow. ... My Guy is a 1964 #1 hit single recorded by Mary Wells for the Motown label. ... Mary Esther Wells (May 13, 1943 – July 26, 1992) was an American soul, R&B, and pop singer. ... (Love is Like a) Heat Wave is a 1963 soul single by Motown girl group Martha and the Vandellas on the Gordy (Motown) label. ... Martha and the Vandellas (known from 1967 to 1972 as Martha Reeves and the Vandellas) were one of the most successful groups in the Motown roster during the 1960s and fully active from 1960 to 1972, performing at various times doo-wop, blues, pop, rock and roll and soul. ...

The electric bass Jamerson played for most of his career was a stock 1962 Fender Precision Bass which was dubbed "The Funk Machine." Jamerson bought it after his first Precision (a gift from fellow bassist Horace "Chili" Ruth) was stolen. It had a three-tone sunburst finish, a tortoise-shell style pickguard, and chrome pickup and bridge covers. He typically set its volume and tone knobs on full. This instrument was also stolen, just days before Jamerson's death in 1983. To date, it has not been found. The Fender Precision Bass, known as P-bass for short, is the first model of the electric bass designed by Clarence Leonidas Fender and brought to market in 1951. ...

James Jamerson used La Bella heavy-gauge (.052-.110) flatwound strings that he likely never changed. He set the "action", or height, of the strings very high above the fingerboard to approximate the feel of his upright bass (Many who tried the instrument claimed it was "unplayable"!). While this made it more difficult to play, Jamerson believed it improved the quality of the tone. On occasion, Jamerson also tucked a piece of foam underneath the bridge cover to lightly dampen the strings' sustain. Early in the 70's, a producer attempted to modernize James Jamerson's sound by asking the bassist to switch to brighter-sounding roundwound bass strings. Jamerson politely declined. The strings of a harp A string is the vibrating element which is the source of vibration in string instruments, such as the guitar, harp, piano, and members of the violin family. ... For other uses, see Fingerboard (disambiguation). ... For the military space program, see SUSTAIN (military). ...

One aspect of James Jamerson's upright playing that carried over to the electric bass guitar was the fact that he generally used only his right index finger to pluck the strings while resting his 3rd and 4th fingers on the chrome pickup cover. Jamerson's index finger even earned its own nickname: "The Hook". [1]

Jamerson's amplifier of choice at club performances was an Ampeg B-15; in larger venues, he used a blue Naugahyde Kustom with twin 15" speakers. On both, the bass was typically turned up full and the treble turned halfway up. On most of his studio recordings, his bass was plugged directly into the mixing console. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Ampeg is an instrument amplifier manufacturer. ... Pleather is a synthetic leather made out of plastic. ... Kustom Amplification is a manufacturer of guitar and bass amplifiers and PA systems. ... In professional audio, a mixing console, digital mixing console, mixing desk (Brit. ...

References

• Talor, Harold Keith, The Motown Music Machine. Jadmeg Music Publishing, 2004
• Slutsky, Allan, Standing in the Shadows of Motown. Hal Leonard Corporation, 1989
• Andr, Motown Bass Classics. Hal Leonard Corporation, 1998
• Posner, Gerald, Motown : Music, Money, Sex, and Power. Random House, 2005
• Rubin, Dave, Motown Bass (Bass Signature Licks). Hal Leonard Corporation, 2000

External links

• James Jamerson's recorded bass parts isolated
• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee page
• Partial discography
• More about James Jamerson
• James Jamerson at Find-A-Grave