Dr. Brian F. Wright is a bassist and musicologist. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Music History at the University of North Texas and is a former research assistant for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Library and Archive.
His latest book, The Bastard Instrument: A Cultural History of the Electric Bass, chronicles the electric bass’s early history and the many known and unknown players who helped establish the instrument. It is available now from Amazon or your local independent bookstore.
To read more of his work, including his interviews with the bass players he consulted for his book, you can also check out his website.
You might not recognize Bret Crow’s name, but if you’ve spent any time scrolling TikTok in the last few years, you’ve seen his face, and you’ve heard his bass playing. Here’s his story.