In Memoriam: Remembering the Bassists We Lost in 2011

Charles Fambrough

January 1, 2011

Charles Fambrough, jazz bassist. Fambrough’s credits include working with Grover Washington, Jr., Airto Moreira, McCoy Tyner, Wynton Marsalis, and more.

Mick Karn

January 4, 2011

Mick Karn, former Japan bassist. Karn’s fretless bass and interesting, angular playing style left an impression on bassists around the world.

Phil Kennemore

January 7, 2011

Phil Kennemore, bassist for Y&T.

Mark Tulin

February 26, 2011

Mark Tulin, bassist for the Electric Prunes. Tulin also spent time playing with the Smashing Pumpkins, including recording parts for the group’s latest project, Teargaren by Kaleidyscope.

Mark Adams

March 5, 2011

Mark Adams, bassist for ’70s funk/R&B group Slave. Adams’ lines turned the bass world on its ear, and inspired many players through the generations.

Mike Starr

March 8th, 2011

Mike Starr was best known for his work with Alice in Chains, starting with the band’s formation in 1987, and playing with them until 1993. Starr was reported to be working with his new band in 2010, Days of the New, but this was cut short by his sudden death at the age of 44.

Jet Harris

March 18, 2011

Jet Harris, bassist for the Shadows. Harris is credited as the first British bass guitarist and was even given a Lifetime Achievement Award by Fender for popularizing the instrument in Britain.

Gerard Smith

April 20, 2011

Gerard Smith, bassist for TV on the Radio.

Jess Oliver

June 30, 2011

Jess Oliver, bass amp innovator and former vice president of Ampeg. Oliver designed the B-15 combo amp, which was used for countless recordings by James Jamerson, Chuck Rainey, and many more.

Jess Oliver

Rob Grill

July 11, 2011

Rob Grill, bassist and vocalist for The Grass Roots.

Marshall Grant

August 7, 2011

Marshall Grant, country bassist and member of Johnny Cash’s backing duo The Tennessee Two. Grant is credited as being an integral part of creating the “boom-chicka-boom” sound that shaped country and rockabilly styles.

Laurie McAllister

August 25, 2011

Laurie McAllister, Runaways bassist. McAllister was the sixth and final bassist in the all-female rock band who listed her time in the band as the “best job ever.”

Graham Collier

September 10, 2011

Graham Collier, jazz bassist and composer. Collier was the first British graduate from Berklee School of Music and became a renowned music educator.

Mikey Welsh

October 8, 2011

Mikey Welsh, former Weezer bassist. A member of the band from 1998-2001, Welsh appeared on their self-titled green album before resigning due to the rigors of touring and eventually turned to visual art.

Ingrid Pastorius

Ingrid Pastorius

November 28, 2011

Ingrid Pastorius, former wife of the late Jaco Pastorius. While not a bassist herself, Ingrid was a favorite among Jaco fans, and a friend to us here at No Treble. Ingrid maintained her own Jaco tribute site and was active on Facebook, sharing, encouraging and doing her thing to keep Jaco’s memory alive.

Dan “Bee” Spears

December 8, 2011

Dan “Bee” Spears, longtime bassist for Willie Nelson. Spears joined Nelson’s band in the late ’60s and kept with him ever since.

Jody Rainwater

December 24, 2011

Jody Rainwater, bluegrass bassist and early member of the Foggy Mountain Boys with Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs.

Jody Rainwater with the Foggy Mountain Boys

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Leave a Reply to Jim DeBaun Cancel reply

  1. Tommy Heinsen

    Kudos to you for putting this together.

  2. Chance Carrico

    You missed one. Taiji Sawada of X Japan and Loudness fame. He was a extraordinary bassist.

  3. Stephanie Anderson

    R.I.P

  4. Eduardo Crocamo

    Thanks! Unsung Heroes

  5. Søren Pilegaard Hansen

    Very good. Thanks and happy new year.

  6. Jim DeBaun

    R.I.P.