JAMES JAMERSON, THE MASTER OF BASS

James Jamerson was one of the most remarkable session musicians of Motown Records. He is often considered as the greatest bass player ever. For many years Jamerson played recording huge success with true legends of the music as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Jackson Five. Is fact, Marvin Gaye asked him to play in his most famous album "What's Going On". The documentary "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" explain about how Gaye insisted to have Jamerson playing the bass in his historic album. Also James Jamerson played "Darling Dear" with Michael Jackson and his brothers. The bass lines in this song are amazing because it instrument works like a chorus, doing a duet with the lead singer. As a member of The Funk Brothers, which was the Motown Records session band, he played in the vast majority of records of Motown during the sixties. He played and performed on nearly 30 No. 1 pop hits. Some the most successful songs were "My Girl" and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" James Jamerson was the main bassist of Motown Record since 1962-1968, having played in almost 95% of Motown recording. Even though this extraordinary musician suffered a lack of recognition during his life, he hugely influenced many bassist of the world. Prominent bassists as Pino Palladino, Alan Gorrie, Rick Danko, Anthony Jackson, Jack Bruce, John Entwistle, Bernard Edwards, and Jaco Pastorius have claimed Jamerson as a primary influence. So, his real recognition and appreciation came years later. James Jamerson died of cirrhosis on August 2, 1983, in Los Angeles.