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Abraham Laboriel facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal family name is Laboriel and the second or maternal family name is López.
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Abraham Laboriel Sr.
Abesf.jpg
Laboriel performing in 1994
Background information
Birth name Abraham Laboriel López
Born (1947-07-17) July 17, 1947 (age 78)
Mexico City, Mexico
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments Bass guitar
Associated acts Koinonia

Abraham Laboriel López (born July 17, 1947) is a super talented Mexican-American musician. He plays the bass guitar and has performed on more than 4,000 recordings and movie soundtracks! Guitar Player magazine once called him "the most widely used session bassist of our time." This means he was the go-to bass player for many artists in recording studios. Abraham Laboriel is also the father of Abe Laboriel Jr., who is a famous drummer, and Mateo Laboriel, who is a producer and film composer.

Early Life and Family

Abraham Laboriel was born in Mexico City, Mexico. He comes from a very musical family. His brother was the Mexican rock singer Johnny Laboriel, and his sister is Ella Laboriel, a singer and actress. Their parents were Garifuna immigrants from Honduras. The family was very religious and belonged to the Catholic Church.

His father, Juan José Laboriel, first worked as a taxi driver. But in the 1920s, he became a big part of the entertainment world in Mexico. He helped start groups for actors, musicians, composers, and film workers. He even worked on over 200 movies in different roles!

Abraham first learned to play the classical guitar. But when he went to the Berklee College of Music, he switched to the bass guitar. He graduated in 1972. During his studies, he learned how important it was to be able to play many different styles of music.

Music Career

A famous musician named Henry Mancini told Abraham Laboriel to move to Los Angeles, California. This was in 1976, and Henry thought Abraham could have a great career there. For two years, Abraham found it hard to get work. But then he got his first big job touring with Olivia Newton-John. After that, he went on a European tour with Al Jarreau. After these tours, Abraham decided to focus on working full-time in recording studios in Los Angeles.

Abraham Laboriel has worked with many, many famous musicians. Some of the well-known artists he has played with include Barbra Streisand, Elton John, George Benson, Herbie Hancock, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Paul Simon, Ray Charles, and Stevie Wonder. He has also worked on movie soundtracks with composers like Alan Silvestri and Michael Giacchino.

Laboriel also helped start two bands: Friendship and Koinonia. With Koinonia, he recorded four albums. He has also released his own solo albums. On these albums, he invited other great musicians to play, including Alex Acuña and Al Jarreau. His son, Abe Laboriel Jr., who is the longtime drummer for Sir Paul McCartney, has also played on some of his dad's recordings.

Today, Abraham Laboriel is a member of the band Open Hands. He plays with Justo Almario, Greg Mathieson, and Bill Maxwell in this group.

Awards and Recognition

Abraham Laboriel has received special honors for his amazing musical talent.

  • In 2005, his old school, the Berklee College of Music, gave him an Honorary Doctorate of Music. This is a special award that recognizes his achievements.
  • Bass Player magazine, a popular magazine for bass players, ranked him No. 42 on their list of "The 100 Greatest Bass Players of All Time." This shows how respected he is in the music world.

Discography (Selected)

Here are some of the albums Abraham Laboriel has released on his own or with his bands:

Solo Albums

  • 1993 Dear Friends
  • 1994 Guidum
  • 1995 Justo Almario & Abraham Laboriel
  • 2001 Laboriel Mathieson
  • 2005 Live in Switzerland

With Koinonia

  • 1983 More Than a Feelin'
  • 1984 Celebration
  • 1986 Frontline
  • 1989 Koinonia

Famous Collaborations

Abraham Laboriel has played on many albums for other artists. Here are just a few examples of the many famous musicians he has worked with:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Abraham Laboriel para niños

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