James Jamerson’s Family Sets New Headstone Unveiling Ceremony
James Jamerson’s bass lines helped shape the sound of Motown and, in turn, the sound of R&B. The bassist, who passed away in 1983, will now have a proper headstone to match his legacy.
After starting a GoFundMe for the project in 2018, Jamerson’s family have announced an unveiling ceremony for his new headstone at his resting place at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan. It will take place on Friday, August 27th at 11am with speakers including Anthony “Ant” McKnight, Danny Tunes Jones, Dennis Coffey, Bob Lee, Allen McGrier, and more. His widow, Annie Jamerson, will also be on hand with family. The headstone will stand upright and include a sculpture of a bass guitar.
“Mr. Jamerson was an American bass player who played on most of Motown Records’ hit songs in the 1960s and 1970s,” the ceremony invitation states. “One of the legendary Funk Brothers, Mr. Jamerson is now regarded as one of the most influential bass players in modern music history. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. As a session musician he played on 23 Billboard Hot 100 number one hits, as well as 56 R&B number one hits.”
Attendance for the event will be limited based on Woodlawn Cemetery guidelines.
