In Memoriam: Remembering the Bassists We Lost in 2013

As 2013 draws to a close, we take a moment to reflect on the notable bassists that left us this year. Their grooves helped to create the soundtrack of life for people all over the world.

Rick Huxley (February 11, 2013)

Bassist for The Dave Clark Five.

Dave Clark Five’s Rick HuxleyAs part of the Dave Clark Five, Huxley was a part of the British Invasion of the ’60s. He was in the band for its 12 year duration and was featured on the hits “Glad All Over,” “Bits and Pieces,” and “Catch Us If You Can.”

Kevin Ayers (February 18, 2013)

Co-founder and bassist of The Soft Machine.

Kevin AyersAyers and the Soft Machine became an influential force as part of the British psychedelic scene that became prevalent in the 1960s. The group toured with Jimi Hendrix before Ayers left the band and pursued a solo career.

Chuck Goff (February 27, 2013)

Bassist for Toby Keith.

Chuck GoffChuck Goff was a longtime collaborator with country superstar Toby Keith. In addition to leading the singer’s band for over 25 years, he cowrote the songs “You Ain’t Much Fun” and “Upstairs Downtown” from the 1994 album Boomtown.

Philip Kubicki (March 18, 2013)

Luthier.

Philip KubickiPhilip Kubicki created the Factor Bass, an innovative take on the bass guitar that took off in the 1980s. After realizing his calling by working on an old acoustic guitar in his grandfather’s closet, Kubicki worked for Fender’s R&D department for nine years. The Kubicki Factor Bass caughtthe bass community’s attention and included a unique bridge tuner device, a mechanism for dropping the E-string down to D, a phantom-powered circuit board, and a 32-piece rotary-cut laminated veneer neck.

Chris Bailey (April 4, 2013)

Bassist for The Angels.

Chris BaileyBailey joined Australian rockers The Angels in 1976 as the group gained a massive following. He was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame with the band in 1998.

Neil Smith (April 7, 2013)

Former AC/DC and Rose Tattoo Bassist.

Neil SmithBassist Neil Smith rocked out with several Australian bands including Rose Tattoo and a stint with AC/DC. Smith was in AC/DC in 1974 before the release of their 1975 album High Voltage.

Chi Cheng (April 13, 2013)

Bassist for The Deftones.

Chi ChengChi Cheng was a co-founder of alternative metal band The Deftones and served as their bassist from 1988 to 2008. Also an accomplished poet, he published an anthology of poetry titled “The Bamboo Parachute” in 2000. His career was ended in 2008 after a car accident left him in a semi-conscious state.

Cordell “Boogie” Mosson (April 18, 2013)

Bassist for Parliament Funkadelic.

P-Funk Bassist Cordell “Boogie” MossonMosson and guitarist friend Garry Shider joined a band called United Soul before coming to the attention of funk legend George Clinton in 1971. He quickly became a prominent contributor to the band and took over as the band’s on-stage bassist after Bootsy Collins left for his solo career.

Trevor Bolder (May 21, 2013)

Rock Bassist.

Trevor BolderBolder was a member of many influential British rock bands, including David Bowie’s backing band Spiders From Mars, Uriah Heep, and Wishbone Ash. He appeared on the Bowie albums albums Hunky Dory, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, Alladin Sane, and Pin Ups until the Spiders From Mars disbanded.

Marshall Lytle (May 25, 2013)

Former Bill Haley and the Comets Bassist.

Marshall Lytle“Rock Around the Clock” is often cited as the birth of rock and roll, and Marshall Lytle’s signature bass style is part of the reason for its success. Lytle joined Bill Haley’s group in 1951, where he developed a stage routine of bass stunts that further pumped up his persona. He continued playing throughout his life in Las Vegas as well as a Comets reunion band that lasted for twenty years. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Comets in 2012.

Mick Morris (June 2, 2013)

Bassist for Eighteen Visions.

Mick MorrisNicknamed MickDeth, Morris joined Eighteen Visions in 2000 and was featured on five of their albums. After the band’s dissolution, he went on to tour with Hatebreed as a guitar tech and started his own clothing line called Dethless Clothing.

Ben Tucker (June 4, 2013)

Jazz Bassist.

Ben TuckerDuring his long career, veteran jazz bassist Ben Tucker played with artists ranging from Art Pepper to Dexter Gordon to Quincy Jones. His composition “Comin’ Home Baby” was a huge hit for singer Mel Torme, and he also created the seed for what would become the classic children’s show Schoolhouse Rock. In his later years, Tucker settled in Savannah, Georgia where he was an integral part of reviving the city’s jazz scene.

Tim Wright (August 4, 2013)

Bassist for Pere Ubu.

Tim WrightWright was a leader in experimental rock. Besides co-founding Pere Ubu, he worked with DNA, Eno, and David Byrne.

Chris Friedrich (August 25, 2013)

Bassist for Caspian.

Chris FriedrichPost-rock bassist Chris Friedrich laid down the low end for Caspian after joining in 2004. He was featured on their studio albums The Four Trees, Tertia and Waking Season, which was named “Best Post-Rock Album of 2012” by SPIN magazine.

Lorne Black (September 27, 2013)

Original Great White Bassist.

Lorne BlackBlack founded the ’80s rock outfit Great White and played on their debut EP as well as the albums Great White, Shot in the Dark, and Once Bitten…. Vocalist Jack Kendall called the bassist “a huge part of the first incarnation of Great White.”

Keith “Sabu” Crier (September 29, 2013)

Bassist for GQ.

Keith “Sabu” CrierCrier first founded the popular disco group GQ under the name Sabu & the Survivors in 1968. The group landed their first hit in 1976 with “Zone,” but their ultimate success came in 1979 with “Disco Nights (Rock-Freak),” which hit #1 on the R&B Singles chart for two weeks.

Butch Warren (October 5, 2013)

Jazz bassist.

Butch WarrenBorn and raised in Washington, D.C., Warren became the house bassist for Blue Note Records during the early ’60s and was on many pivotal records from the era. He recorded on some of jazz’s most popular songs including Herbie Hancock’s “Watermelon Man,” Kenny Dorham’s “Blue Bossa,” and Dexter Gordon’s “Cheese Cake.” He released his first album as a leader in 2011 followed up by Butch’s Blues.

Marc Trovillion (October 10, 2013)

Bassist for Lambchop.

Marc TrovillionTrovillion founded the Nashville-based rock band in 1987 and was on every record from 1994’s I Hope You’re Sitting Down/Jack’s Tulips up through 2002’s Is a Woman.

Dwayne Burno (December 28, 2013)

Jazz bassist.

Dwayne BurnoBorn in Philadelphia, Burno was a mainstay of the New York City jazz scene for the past two decades. His resume includes work with legendary artists including Freddie Hubbard, Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, Joe Henderson, and many more.

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