In Memoriam: Jack Conrad
Jack Conrad, who played bass for The Doors and wrote songs for many artists, has passed away from a massive heart attack. He was 69 years old.
Conrad’s diverse musical career started in the ’60s. He recorded for the Petula Clark album I Know A Place in 1965 and started writing songs. He collaborated with Paul Williams for his albums Someday Man in 1970 and Just an Old Fashioned Love Song the next year. His big bass break came when he was asked to play on the first post-Jim Morrison albums for the Doors: Other Voices and Full Circle. While several other session bassists were featured on those albums, Conrad played on the bulk of each while joining the band on tour. He is featured on the band’s 1972 Beat Club performance, which was their first TV appearance since Jim Morrison’s death.
Other recording highlights from his career include Gram Parsons’ “GP”, Johnny Rivers’ “Last Boogie in Paris”, and Robby Krieger’s “No Habla”.
He was also an accomplished songwriter with credits for artists including Three Dog Night, The Bottom Line, Dave Mason, The Babys, Heart, and more. He released his own solo album, Mother Earth Dance, in 1992.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Jack Conrad.
Thanks for “remembering” my friend, Jack Conrad. Jack and I went to Junior High (and high school for a while) together, but it was “our band” that is the great bind. Jack and I started a group in Denver while we were both in junior high (Gove Jr. high). I was with him (and his mother) as a “consultant” when he bought his first bass guitar for our band. We BOTH learned the “ropes” together and our band soon became “pretty good” playing numerous “gigs” around the Denver area. I could give you a whole lot more about the “early days”, but space and time are limited…but THANK YOU!!
I just found that he wrote some of my favorite songs, what a talent! Cool you were friends
Jack was an extremely kind man. I will remember fondly when he would come by to help me with this and that and he would always have his dog in the car.
Hola amigos de NO TREBLE. Me podrían decir quién tocó el bajo eléctrico en el primer álbum de “The Doors”? Hi. Can you say me who played the electric bass in the first record of The Doors? Thank you. Saludos.
Hey Jorge, I’ve read that it was Larry Knechtel but I haven’t looked into to it too hard.
I just found out Jack Conrad passed away. He was a fantastic bass player, one of my all-time favorites! Listen to “Tight Rope Ride” on the Doors’ “Other Voices” album! One of the finest bass lines in rock history! RIP Jack Conrad