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Nathan East
NathanEast2.jpg
East in 2005
Background information
Birth name Nathan Harrell East
Born (1955-12-08) 8 December 1955 (age 69)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instruments
  • Bass
  • vocals
Years active 1971–present
Associated acts

Nathan Harrell East, born on December 8, 1955, is a super talented American musician. He plays the bass guitar and sings in jazz, R&B, and rock music. He's one of the most recorded bass players ever, having played on over 2,000 songs!

Nathan studied music at the University of California, San Diego. He helped start the jazz band Fourplay. He has also worked with many famous artists like Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson, Phil Collins, Stevie Wonder, and Daft Punk.

Nathan East's Musical Journey

Early Life and Learning Music

Nathan Harrell East was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. When he was four, his family moved to San Diego. He is one of eight children.

Nathan first learned to play the cello in middle school. He played in his junior high school's orchestra. At age fourteen, he became interested in the bass guitar. He played in church with his brothers. He was also active in his high school's music groups. Nathan loved listening to bass players like Charles Mingus and James Jamerson. He also studied music at UC San Diego. Did you know Nathan is also a skilled amateur magician? He is a member of The Magic Castle.

Becoming a Music Star

Nathan East as a member of Eric Clapton's band, Detroit, 10 Sep 2022
Nathan East playing with Eric Clapton's band in Detroit, September 10, 2022.

Nathan East is one of the founding members of the jazz band Fourplay. He started the band with Bob James (keyboards), Lee Ritenour (guitar), and Harvey Mason (drums). Later, Larry Carlton and Chuck Loeb played guitar for the band.

He has worked with many amazing musicians. These include Babyface, Anita Baker, the Bee Gees, Eric Clapton, Daft Punk, Herbie Hancock, George Harrison, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Quincy Jones, and Stevie Wonder. Nathan even helped write the song "Easy Lover" for Phil Collins and Philip Bailey.

In 2013, he played the bass on the huge hit song "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk. This song won two Grammy Awards in 2014! Since the 1980s, Nathan has been a member of Eric Clapton's band. He has toured and recorded with them. In 2009, he was invited to play at a special event for the U.S. President in Washington, D.C.

Nathan also joined the rock band Toto for their reunion tours from 2010 to 2012. In 2014, he released his first solo album, called Nathan East. Many of his friends played on it, like Stevie Wonder and Eric Clapton.

In 2023, Nathan performed with Eric Clapton in Tokyo. He also joined his nephew, Will Johns, and The Cream of Clapton Band for a show in San Diego. Nathan's son, Noah East, also plays with The Cream of Clapton Band.

Nathan East shared in 2025 that he played on an album by the heavy metal band Judas Priest in the 1980s. People think it might have been their 1986 album Turbo.

Nathan East's Gear

Nathan East 08Jun2014
Nathan East playing a Yamaha SLB200 Silent Upright Bass with Fourplay in Charlotte, North Carolina, on June 8, 2014.

Nathan East worked with Yamaha to create his own special 5-string bass guitar. It's called the BBNE. A newer version, the BBNE2, came out in 2001. He also uses a special Yamaha SLB200 Silent Upright Bass.

In 2019, Nathan helped create custom in-ear monitors called N8. These are special headphones that musicians use on stage to hear their music clearly.

Awards and Recognitions

Nathan East has received many awards for his amazing music:

  • Ivor Novello Award for "Easy Lover"
  • Most Valuable Player (bass) at the International Rock Awards
  • Bassist of the Year at the U.S. National Smooth Jazz Awards
  • Honored by the U.S. Congress in 2007

Music Albums

Fourplay Albums

  • 1991: Fourplay
  • 1993: Between the Sheets
  • 1995: Elixir
  • 1997: The Best of Fourplay
  • 1998: 4
  • 1999: Snowbound
  • 2000: Yes, Please!
  • 2002: Heartfelt
  • 2004: Journey
  • 2006: X
  • 2008: Energy
  • 2010: Let's Touch the Sky
  • 2012: Esprit de Four
  • 2015: Silver

Solo Albums

  • 2014: Nathan East
  • 2015: The New Cool (with Bob James)
  • 2017: Reverence

Songs That Charted

Nathan East has had several songs become popular on the Smooth Jazz Airplay charts:

  • 2014: "Daft Funk" (reached #2)
  • 2014: "101 Eastbound" (reached #11)
  • 2015: "Moondance" (with Michael McDonald) (reached #21)
  • 2016: "Lifecycle" (reached #1)
  • 2017: "Serpentine Fire" (with Philip Bailey, Verdine White and Ralph Johnson) (reached #17)
  • 2023: "Nujazzy" (with Bobby Lyle) (reached #1)
  • 2024: "Love of Your Life" (with Lindsey Webster) (reached #9)
  • 2024: "Longing for You" (with Donald Hayes) (reached #1)

Live Performances with Other Artists

Nathan East has performed live with many artists throughout his career:

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Nathan East para niños

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