Carol Kaye, Bass Icon Behind “Good Vibrations” and Thousands of Hits, Finally Enters Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
For many years, Carol Kaye was making hit records under the radar. Sure, people in the music industry knew her as part of the A-list of Los Angeles session musicians, but the average fan didn’t know she was behind the bass hook on “Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys or “The Beat Goes On” by Sonny and Cher. Over time, her name has become ubiquitous in conversations about bass greats, and now she’s getting even more recognition.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has announced its inductees for 2025, including Kaye, who will receive the Musical Excellence Award alongside Philly soul producer Thom Bell and studio pianist/organist Nicky Hopkins.
Kaye, who turned 90 in March, played on over 10,000 sessions. She began on guitar and started playing bebop professionally around Los Angeles in 1949. A little over a decade later, she found herself working in the studio with soul legend Sam Cooke by happenstance. It was in 1963 that she picked up a Fender Bass (as most electric basses were referred to then) when a bassist didn’t show up for a session. That fateful day changed the course of her career and, arguably, popular music. She played with everyone from Herb Alpert to The Beach Boys to Nancy Sinatra to Elvis Presley and many more, not to mention film soundtracks like Mission: Impossible and The Godfather.
If you’re unfamiliar, this Snapshots Foundation interview will make you a fan.
The rest of the inductee list includes Bad Company (who began with bass legend Boz Burrell and ended with Todd Ronning), Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker (with whom Kaye recorded), Cyndi Lauper, Outkast, Soundgarden (with bassists Ben Shepherd and Hiro Yamamoto), and The White Stripes. The Musical Influence Award will be presented to Salt-N-Pepa and Warren Zevon while industry executive Larry Waronker will receive the Ahmet Ertegun Award.
The 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction will be live on Saturday, November 8th at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California. It will stream live on Disney+ and air later on ABC and Hulu.
Congratulations to Carol Kaye and the rest of the Rock Hall inductees!
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
I can’t believe she hasn’t already been inducted. I think a majority of people have no idea the role she played in popular music. To me, she is every bit important as James Jamerson and should be recognized. Good for you, Carol! Much deserved!
RRHOF is a joke, this is way overdue. Most of the musicians that were part of the “wrecking crew” should have been some of the first people inducted.
Wow!!!! Can’t believe she has not been inducted yet! What a pioneer of electric bass and role model for everyone that came behind her. Way to go Carol. Should have happened along time ago.
Congratulations, Carol Kaye!!!! LONG overdue!
Why why why did this take so long? She should’ve been in the first class entered! Carol Kaye is a living legend
BIG Congratulations, Carol Kaye! A major musical influence, even today!
Watched the Wrecking Crew film finally. She is WAY more than a bass player. WowWee. Talent on loan from God.
CONGRATULATIONS TO MS. CAROL KAYE… I’M SO HAPPY THAT YOU ARE FINALLY GOING TO BE IN THE RRHOF… THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE, WHO DESERVE TO BE IN THE RRHOF… IN MY OPINION, THE WRECKING CREW CONSISTED OF THE BEST OF THE BEST… AND YOU, MS. KAYE ARE ONE OF THE BEST… MAY GOD’S BLESSINGS FOREVERMORE SHINE ON YOU…❤️❤️❤️
The whole Wrecking Crew should be inducted.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should be renamed to something else. Salt-N- Pepa are not what I would call Rock and Roll by any stretch of the imagination. Styx still isn’t in it. It’s about as lame as the Grammy’s. Glad Nicky Hopkins is being recognized along with Carol Kaye. How are Cyndi Lauper and Outkast considered Rock and Roll?
What about Ted Nugent?
Way, way , way overdue. An amazingly creative artist! I advise everyone see the movies WRECKING CREW I&II.