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Bob Babbitt | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Robert Andrew Kreinar |
Born | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. | November 26, 1937
Died | July 16, 2012 74) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. | (aged
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Musician |
Instrument | Bass |
Years active | 1961–2012 |
Formerly of | The Funk Brothers |
Robert Andrew Kreinar (November 26, 1937 – July 16, 2012), known as Bob Babbitt, was an American bassist, most famous for his work as a member of Motown Records' studio band, the Funk Brothers, from 1966 to 1972, as well as his tenure as part of MFSB for Philadelphia International Records afterwards. Also in 1968, with Mike Campbell, Ray Monette and Andrew Smith, he formed the band Scorpion, which lasted until 1970. [1] He is ranked number 59 on Bass Player magazine's list of "The 100 Greatest Bass Players of All Time". [2]
Babbitt traded off sessions with original Motown bassist James Jamerson. When Motown moved to Los Angeles, Babbitt went in the opposite direction and ended up in New York as well as making occasional trips to Philadelphia. [3] In this new city, he worked on recordings for Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow, Gloria Gaynor, Robert Palmer, and Alice Cooper. During this time, his most notable successes were "Midnight Train to Georgia"(1973) by Gladys Knight & the Pips and "The Rubberband Man" by The Spinners. [4]
The Pittsburgh-born Babbitt's most notable bass performances include "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" (1970) by Stevie Wonder; "War" (1970) by Edwin Starr; "The Tears of a Clown" (1970) by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles; "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" (1971) and "Inner City Blues" (1971) by Marvin Gaye; "Band of Gold" (1970) by Freda Payne; "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)", "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" (1971) and "Masterpiece" (1973) by The Temptations; "Scorpio" (1971) by Dennis Coffey; [5] and "Just Don't Want to Be Lonely" (1973) by The Main Ingredient.
He participated in hundreds of other hits, including "Little Town Flirt" by Del Shannon and "Scorpio" by Dennis Coffey & the Detroit Guitar Band. He played on the Jimi Hendrix album Crash Landing . He also played bass on Cindy Bullens' 1979 album Desire Wire . He accepted an offer from Phil Collins to perform on his album of Motown and 1960s soul classics, Going Back , and also appeared in Collins' Going Back – Live at Roseland Ballroom, NYC concert DVD. He appeared on stage in an episode of American Idol , backing up Jacob Lusk's performance of "You're All I Need to Get By" for AI's Motown Week in March 2011.
In 2003, Babbitt played on Marion James' album Essence, and amongst others playing on the record were Beegie Adair, Reese Wynans, Jack Pearson (The Allman Brothers), and drummer Chucki Burke. [6]
He was added to the Music City Walk of Fame in June 2012. [7]
Babbitt died on July 16, 2012, aged 74, from brain cancer. [8] [9] [10]
With Frank Black
With Blue Magic
With Dee Dee Bridgewater
With Carlene Carter
With Joe Cocker
With Phil Collins
With Lou Courtney
With Peter Frampton
With Marvin Gaye
With Gloria Gaynor
With Major Harris
With Richie Havens
With Cissy Houston
With Sass Jordan
With Margie Joseph
With Eric Kaz
With Ben E. King
With Gladys Knight
With Nils Lofgren
With Taj Mahal
With Barry Manilow
With Herbie Mann
With Kathy McCord
With Jimmy McGriff
With Moon Martin
With Jackie Moore
With Kenny Nolan
With Laura Nyro
With The O'Jays
With Yoko Ono
With Robert Palmer
With Teddy Pendergrass
With Roxanne Potvin
With Bonnie Raitt
With Irene Reid
With Vicki Sue Robinson
With Rodriguez
With Jimmy Ruffin
With Tom Rush
With Harvey Scales
With Helen Schneider
With Marlena Shaw
With Sister Sledge
With Lonnie Smith
With The Spinners
With Rod Stewart
With The Temptations
With Stanley Turrentine
With Frankie Valli
With Dionne Warwick
With Deniece Williams
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