James Jamerson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Jamerson
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Jamerson in 1964
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | James Lee Jamerson |
| Born | January 29, 1936 Edisto Island, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | August 2, 1983 (aged 47) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, soul, pop, funk, jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Session musician |
| Instruments | Bass guitar, double bass |
| Years active | 1956–1983 |
| Labels | Motown, and others |
| Associated acts | The Funk Brothers |
James Lee Jamerson (born January 29, 1936 – died August 2, 1983) was an amazing American bass player. He played on many famous songs from Motown Records in the 1960s and early 1970s. For a long time, his name wasn't listed on these records. Today, he is known as one of the most important bass players ever.
In 2000, James Jamerson was added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He played on 23 songs that reached number one on the Billboard pop charts. He also played on 56 number-one R&B hits. In 2017, Bass Player magazine called him the most influential bass guitarist. Rolling Stone magazine also ranked him number one on their list of the 50 greatest bassists in 2020.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
James Jamerson was born on Edisto Island, South Carolina. His grandmother played piano, and his aunt sang in the church choir. As a child, James was good at playing the piano and performed for people. He also briefly played the trombone.
When he was a teenager, James was quiet but loved music very much. He listened to gospel, blues, and jazz music on the radio. These styles helped shape his unique sound later on.
Joining Motown and The Funk Brothers
In 1954, James Jamerson moved to Detroit with his mother. He went to Northwestern High School, where he started playing the upright bass. He began performing in blues and jazz clubs around Detroit. Jazz bassists like Ray Brown and Paul Chambers influenced him.
After high school, he kept playing in clubs. He joined blues singer Washboard Willie's band and toured with Jackie Wilson. His good reputation helped him get jobs playing in recording studios. In 1959, he started working regularly at Berry Gordy's Hitsville U.S.A. studio, which was home to the Motown record label.
At Motown, James became part of a special group of studio musicians called The Funk Brothers. This group played on almost all Motown recordings during the 1960s. Jamerson first played the upright bass, but in the early 1960s, he mostly switched to an electric Fender Precision Bass.
Most of the Funk Brothers were jazz musicians, just like Jamerson. They would record songs during the day at Motown's small "Studio A," which they called "the Snakepit." At night, they would play gigs in jazz clubs. Sometimes, they even toured with Motown artists. For many years, the Funk Brothers were not named on Motown records. Later, Jamerson was paid $1,000 a week, which helped him and his family live comfortably.
Jamerson played on hundreds of Motown hits. These include "You Can't Hurry Love" by The Supremes and "My Girl" by The Temptations. He also played on "Shotgun" by Jr. Walker & the All Stars and "I Was Made to Love Her" by Stevie Wonder. Other famous songs include "Dancing in the Street" by Martha and the Vandellas and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" by Marvin Gaye. He also played on most of Marvin Gaye's album What's Going On.
James Jamerson stopped touring in 1964 to focus on studio work full-time. He played on almost every Motown recording between 1963 and 1968. This includes over 60 songs that reached the top fifteen on the pop charts. He played on 23 number-one pop hits and 56 number-one R&B hits.
Jamerson's Unique Bass Style
James Jamerson changed how bass was played in popular music. Before him, bass lines were often simple, using mostly root notes and basic patterns. Jamerson's bass lines were much more complex and melodic. He used many different notes and rhythms, making his playing sound very lively.
His playing included chromatic runs (using notes close together), syncopation (playing off the beat), and inversions (playing notes of a chord in a different order). His smooth and quick bass playing was a key part of the "Motown Sound." He created catchy melodies that still fit perfectly with the drums.
When Jamerson started, the electric bass was a new instrument. His background as a jazz musician and upright bassist influenced his style. Over time, his technique became very detailed and creative. By the mid-1960s, his style was essential to the Motown sound. It also had a big impact on popular music everywhere. Even Beatles songs like "You Won't See Me" and "Nowhere Man" showed his influence.
Many famous bassists have said Jamerson influenced them. These include Paul McCartney, Geddy Lee, Marcus Miller, Flea, and John Paul Jones.
Later Career and Legacy
After Motown moved its main office to Los Angeles, California, in 1972, Jamerson also moved there. He found some studio work, but his official work with Motown ended in 1973. He played on hits like "Neither One of Us" by Gladys Knight & the Pips (1973) and "Boogie Fever" by The Sylvers (1976).
In Los Angeles, Jamerson didn't work with the same group of musicians as he did at Motown. Music trends also started to change. Newer bass players used different amplifiers and strings, and their bass lines were simpler. Jamerson preferred his classic style, so his playing became less common in new recordings.
James Jamerson married Annie Wells and they had four children. His son, James Jamerson Jr. (1957–2016), also became a professional bass player. James Jamerson passed away on August 2, 1983, in Los Angeles. He is buried in Detroit's historic Woodlawn Cemetery.
Awards and Recognition
For a long time, James Jamerson and the other Funk Brothers didn't get much credit for their work. Their names weren't on the records. The first time Jamerson was officially credited on a major Motown release was in 1971. This was for his playing on Marvin Gaye's What's Going On album. The record sleeve called him "the incomparable James Jamerson."
In 1989, a book called Standing in the Shadows of Motown was written about Jamerson by Allan Slutsky. This book shared his life story and showed how he played his bass lines. Later, a documentary film with the same name was made in 2002.
James Jamerson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. He received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. In 2007, he was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame as a member of the Funk Brothers. He also received the Bass Player magazine's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011. In 2013, the Funk Brothers received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
His home state of South Carolina has also honored him many times. The South Carolina Senate and House of Representatives have recognized his contributions.
Jamerson's Instruments and Gear
James Jamerson started playing on an upright bass owned by his school. After high school, he bought his own German upright bass. He used this instrument on early Motown hits like "My Guy" by Mary Wells. This upright bass is now in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Around 1960 or 1961, he started using an electric bass. Jamerson mostly played the Fender Precision Bass. His first electric bass was a 1957 Precision Bass, which was black with a gold pickguard. He called it "Black Beauty," but it was later stolen.
After "Black Beauty" was stolen, he got another Precision Bass, but that one was also stolen. Then, he got a 1962 Fender Precision Bass. His fellow musicians nicknamed this one "The Funk Machine." It had a sunburst color, a tortoiseshell pickguard, and a rosewood fretboard. He carved the word "FUNK" into the neck. He usually kept its volume and tone knobs turned all the way up. Sadly, "The Funk Machine" was also stolen just before he passed away in 1983 and was never found.
Jamerson used special, heavy strings called La Bella flatwound strings. He almost never changed them unless one broke. He believed that the old strings helped create his unique "funk" sound. He didn't clean his instrument much, thinking the "dirt" added to the tone.
When playing his electric bass, Jamerson mostly used only his right index finger to pluck the strings. He called this finger "The Hook." He would rest his other fingers on the pickup cover. He also used open strings a lot, a technique from jazz bass playing. This made his bass lines sound very smooth and flowing. He played with a relaxed and light touch.
For amplifiers, Jamerson often used an Ampeg B-15 for club shows. In larger places, he used a blue Kustom amplifier. In the studio, his bass was often plugged directly into the mixing console. He adjusted the sound to be slightly overdriven, which gave it a warm, rich tone.
See also
In Spanish: James Jamerson para niños
