Chuck Rainey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chuck Rainey
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Rainey at Detroit Bass Festival in 2013.
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Charles Walter Rainey III |
| Born | June 17, 1940 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Bass guitar |
| Associated acts | |
Charles Walter Rainey III (born June 17, 1940) is a famous American bass guitarist. He has played music with many well-known artists like Aretha Franklin, Steely Dan, and Quincy Jones. Chuck Rainey has played bass on over 1,000 albums. This makes him one of the most recorded bass players ever!
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Chuck Rainey was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on June 17, 1940. He grew up in Youngstown. His parents both played the piano for fun. As a child, he learned to play the viola, piano, and trumpet. He studied brass instruments in college at Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee. Rainey started playing the guitar while he was in the military.
A Career in Music
After college, Chuck played guitar in a local band. But his hands were very big, which made some guitar chords hard to play. His drummer suggested he try the bass guitar instead. He was 21 years old when he first picked up a bass.
His first big professional job was playing with Big Jay McNeely. Then, he toured Canada and New York with Sil Austin. In 1962, Rainey joined King Curtis and his All-Star band. In 1965, they even opened for The Beatles on their US tour! He joined Quincy Jones's big band in 1972. By the 1970s, he had played with many famous musicians. He also played on five albums for the band Steely Dan.
Solo Albums and Teaching
Even though he often played with other artists, Rainey also made his own music. His first solo album, The Chuck Rainey Coalition, came out in 1969. He released other solo albums too, like Born Again (1982), Hangin' Out Right (1999), Sing & Dance (2001), and Interpretations of a Groove (2012).
Rainey also wrote five books called Complete Electric Bass Player. He made videos to teach others how to play the bass. He helped create the bass guitar lessons at Musicians Institute and the Dick Grove School of Music. From 1990 to 1992, he wrote articles for Bass Player magazine.
Health and Later Work
On November 5, 2011, Rainey had a stroke. This made his left side unable to move. He spent four years getting physical therapy. He also practiced meditation and Hatha yoga. He worked hard and made a full recovery!
In 2014, Rainey and drummer John Anthony Martinez started a group called Rhythm Intensive. They offer classes and workshops for young musicians who want to play in a rhythm section. Rainey and Martinez also wrote a book together called The Tune of Success: Unmask Your Genius.
In April 2020, Rainey shared that he had stopped playing bass professionally. He decided to focus on writing his life story and working with Rhythm Intensive.
Chuck Rainey has his own special line of bass guitars. These are made by Alvarez Guitars and Ken Smith Basses. On May 7, 2022, Berklee College of Music gave him an honorary Doctor of Music degree. This was a special award for his amazing contributions to music.
Chuck Rainey's Music
As a Solo Artist
- The Chuck Rainey Coalition (1969)
- Albino Gorilla (1971)
- Born Again (1981)
- Coolin' 'N Groovin' (A Night at On-Air) with Bernard Purdie (1993)
- Chuck Rainey/David T. Walker Band with David T. Walker (1994)
- Hangin' Out Right (1998)
- Sing & Dance (1999)
- Interpretations of a Groove (2013)
See also
In Spanish: Chuck Rainey para niños
