State of Independence: The Story Behind the Song and the Controversy Surrounding Its Bass Line
In this episode, I’m digging into Donna Summer’s song “State of Independence” (1982), produced by Quincy Jones.
We’ll get into the amazing story of how it set up “We Are the World” three years later, and try to figure out if Michael Jackson ripped off Louis Johnson’s bass line to make his biggest hit, “Billie Jean.”
Let’s dive into this and more.
Paul Thompson has been playing bass professionally for over 30 years, including recording and touring stints with trumpeter Maynard Ferguson and saxophonist Stanley Turrentine. Recent playing credits include Bob Reynolds, John Pizzarelli, Jeff 'Tain' Watts, and Bob James, among others. Currently, he can be seen playing in and around the Pittsburgh, PA area with the THOTH Trio, the Pittsburgh Jazz Orchestra, and many other musicians in the city's rich Jazz community. An educator of over 25 years, Paul currently teaches Jazz Bass at Duquesne University, West Virginia University, and his alma mater, Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 Performing Arts School.
Connect with Paul on Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, and his website.
