Joe Osborn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joe Osborn
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Osborn in 2012
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Joseph Osborn |
| Born | August 28, 1937 Mound, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | December 14, 2018 (aged 81) Greenwood, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Genres | Pop, country, rock |
| Occupation(s) | Session musician |
| Instruments | Bass guitar |
| Years active | 1960-2018 |
Joseph Osborn (born August 28, 1937 – died December 14, 2018) was an American bass guitar player. He was famous for working as a session musician. This means he played music for recordings without being a main band member. He worked in Los Angeles with a group called the Wrecking Crew. He also played in Nashville with the A-Team of studio musicians. He was active from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Contents
Joe Osborn's Life and Music
Starting His Music Career
Joe Osborn began his music journey playing in local clubs. He then played on a popular song by singer Dale Hawkins. When he was 20, he moved to Las Vegas. There, he spent a year playing bass for country singer Bob Luman.
Osborn used to play guitar, but he switched to electric bass. This happened when he was with bandmates like the great guitar player Roy Buchanan. In 1960, he joined pop star Ricky Nelson's band. He played with them for four years. His bass playing on Nelson's hits, like "Travelin' Man," became very noticeable. This led to more studio work with artists such as Johnny Rivers.
Playing Bass in Los Angeles Studios
Ricky Nelson's band broke up in 1964. After that, Osborn started working full-time in Los Angeles studios. For the next ten years, he was a top choice for bass players. These Los Angeles studio musicians were known as The Wrecking Crew.
He worked with famous producers like Lou Adler. He often played with drummer Hal Blaine and keyboardist Larry Knechtel. This trio was sometimes called the Hollywood Golden Trio. You can hear his bass on many hit songs from that time. He also played on movie music and TV commercials.
His bass playing is on songs by groups like the Mamas & the Papas and the 5th Dimension. He played on Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge over Troubled Water." He also played on the 5th Dimension's "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In." A song where his bass stands out is "Ventura Highway" by America. Joe Osborn also played on many of Neil Diamond's big hits. He even played on songs by Nancy Sinatra.
Joe Osborn is also known for finding and helping the popular duo the Carpenters. He played bass on all their albums throughout their career.
Moving to Nashville for Country Music
In 1974, Osborn left Los Angeles and moved to Nashville. This city is known as the capital of country and western music. He kept playing actively in studios there. He played for singers like Kenny Rogers and Hank Williams, Jr..
It's said that Osborn played bass on 53 number one country hits. He also played on at least 197 songs that reached the top 40. He left Nashville in 1988. He then moved to Keithville near Shreveport.
Later Years
From 2005 until his death in December 2018, Joe Osborn was semi-retired. He still recorded music sometimes. He enjoyed making new music with Richard Carpenter. He also played bass at his local church.
He continued to work in the studio until May 2017. His last known work was on an album released in August 2018. Joe Osborn was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in early 2018. He passed away on December 14, 2018, at his home.
Joe Osborn's Instruments and Style
For most of his career, Osborn used a 1960 Fender Jazz Bass. Fender gave him this bass before he toured Australia with Ricky Nelson. He was first hoping for a Precision Bass, which he used before. But he grew to love the Jazz Bass because its narrower neck was easier for his shorter fingers.
He used LaBella flatwound bass strings. He didn't change them for 20 years! His playing style was special. He got a clear, bright sound by using a plectrum (a pick). This famous bass is now on display at the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee.
Many music producers liked his unique sound. They often made his bass lines louder in the mix. They also added short bass solos into the songs.
A guitar company called Lakland made a special bass named after him. It was called the "Joe Osborn Signature" bass. Now, it's known as the "44-60 Vintage J Bass." In 2012, Fender Guitar built a custom Fender Jazz Bass just for him. He used this new bass when he produced and played for teen musician Matthew Davidson's first recording.
Awards and Recognitions
Joe Osborn was nominated for Bass Player of the Year many times. This was by the Academy of Country Music. He won this award four times out of six nominations.
His awards include:
- 1980: Nominee, Bass Player of the Year, Academy of Country Music
- 1981: Winner, Bass Player of the Year, Academy of Country Music
- 1982: Nominee, Bass Player of the Year, Academy of Country Music
- 1983: Winner, Bass Player of the Year, Academy of Country Music
- 1984: Winner, Bass Player of the Year, Academy of Country Music
- 1985: Winner, Bass Player of the Year, Academy of Country Music
- 2010: Inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame.
Joe Osborn had two sons, Darren and Dave Osborn. Both of them are also in the music business.
Popular Songs Featuring Joe Osborn
- Travelin' Man (Ricky Nelson)
- Memphis (Johnny Rivers)
- California Dreamin' (The Mamas & the Papas)
- Windy (The Association)
- MacArthur Park (Richard Harris)
- Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The 5th Dimension)
- The Only Living Boy in New York (Simon & Garfunkel)
- For All We Know (The Carpenters)
- Forgiven, Don Francisco, 1977
- It's Going to Take Some Time (The Carpenters)
- Bridge over Troubled Water (Simon & Garfunkel)
- Midnight Confessions (The Grass Roots)
- Ventura Highway (America)
See also
In Spanish: Joe Osborn para niños
