Nathan East

Last updated

Nathan East
NathanEast2.jpg
East in 2005
Background information
Birth nameNathan Harrell East
Born (1955-12-08) December 8, 1955 (age 68)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Instrument(s)
  • Bass
  • vocals
Years active1971–present
Member of Fourplay
Website nathaneast.com

Nathan Harrell East (born December 8, 1955) is an American jazz, R&B, and rock bass guitarist and vocalist. With more than 2,000 recordings, East is one of the most recorded bass players in the history of music. [1] [2] East holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from the University of California, San Diego (1978). He is a founding member of contemporary jazz quartet Fourplay and has recorded, performed, and co-written songs with performers such as Bobby Womack, [3] Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson, [4] Joe Satriani, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Phil Collins, Stevie Wonder, Toto, Kenny Loggins, Daft Punk, Chick Corea, and Herbie Hancock.

Contents

Career

Early life

Nathan Harrell East was born on December 8, 1955, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Thomas and Gwendolyn East. He is one of eight children (five boys and three girls) raised Catholic in San Diego, where the family moved when he was four. He is the younger brother of Msgr Ray East of St Teresa of Avila Church in DC. [5]

East first studied cello from seventh through ninth grade and played in local Horace Mann junior high school's orchestra. At age fourteen he developed an interest in the bass guitar, playing in church with his brothers Raymond and David. He was active in his (Crawford) high school's music programs along with a local top 40 band called "Power". He has said his early influences included Charles Mingus, Ray Brown and Ron Carter on upright bass; and James Jamerson, Paul McCartney and Chuck Rainey on electric bass. He studied music at UC San Diego. Nathan East is also an accomplished amateur magician member of The Magic Castle and the Academy of Magical Arts.

Music career

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

East is a founding member of the contemporary jazz band Fourplay with Bob James (keyboards), Lee Ritenour on guitar (later replaced by Larry Carlton and Chuck Loeb) and Harvey Mason (drums).

He has worked with Bobby Womack (on the album The Poet ), [3] Babyface, Anita Baker, The Bee Gees, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Gail Ann Dorsey, Bryan Ferry, Daft Punk, Herbie Hancock, George Harrison, Michael Jackson, Al Jarreau, Elton John, Quincy Jones, Earth, Wind & Fire, B.B. King, Kenny Loggins, The Love Unlimited Orchestra, The Manhattan Transfer, Ed O'Brien, Laura Pausini, Savage Garden, Sting, Barry White, and Stevie Wonder. He co-wrote the song "Easy Lover" for Phil Collins and Philip Bailey. In 2013, he recorded the bass line for the 2013 hit "Get Lucky" by Daft Punk, which won Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (2014). Since the 1980s, East has been a member of Eric Clapton's studio and touring bands. East was invited to play at We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. in 2009.

In early 2010, he was invited to join American Grammy Award-winning rock band Toto on their reunion tour to benefit member Mike Porcaro, who had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. East later joined Toto for their 2011 and 2012 tours as well. He joined Eric Clapton's band for concerts in Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and Dubai in February and March 2014 and again for the Madison Square Garden and Royal Albert Hall concerts in May 2015. [6]

East's self-titled debut solo album was released on March 25, 2014. [7] [8] During recording, he was joined by several of his longtime associates, including Stevie Wonder, Michael McDonald, Eric Clapton, Ray Parker Jr., and Greg Phillinganes. [1]

In 2023, East performed with Eric Clapton during his Tokyo Residency at the Nippon Budokan from April 15-24. [9] Returning from Japan, East joined Eric Clapton's nephew, Will Johns, and The Cream of Clapton Band at their April 30 show in San Diego. [10] East's son, Noah East, has been a part of The Cream of Clapton Band since early 2023 and toured with the band throughout the spring of 2023. [10]

Equipment

Nathan East plays a Yamaha SLB200 Silent Upright Bass with Fourplay at Knight Theater in Charlotte, North Carolina, on June 8, 2014. Nathan East 08Jun2014.jpg
Nathan East plays a Yamaha SLB200 Silent Upright Bass with Fourplay at Knight Theater in Charlotte, North Carolina, on June 8, 2014.

With Yamaha, East developed a custom 5-string bass guitar signature model, the BBNE (modeled after his early 1980s BB5000 5-string bass). The second signature bass, the BBNE2, was released in 2001. A limited edition 30th Anniversary version (the BBNE2 LTD) was released in 2011. He has also used custom 6-string prototypes of his BBNE2 bass guitar between 2003 and 2005, along with his black 1980s LB-1 Motion 5-string bass and a pair of 6-string TRB6P models. Yamaha introduced the NE1 Parametric EQ Pedal, otherwise known as the "Magic Box" in the early 2000s. This pedal essentially gives the player the ability to use the "Nathan East EQ curve" on any bass they choose. East also plays a Yamaha SLB200 Silent Upright Bass. [11]

In 2019, East co-developed a custom in-ear monitor dubbed N8 (a product abbreviation that plays on East's first name, Nate) with 64 Audio, an Oregon-based manufacturer of in-ear monitors for stage performers, mixing engineers and audio enthusiasts. [12]

Awards and honors

Discography

Solo

YearTitleLabelNotes
2014 Nathan East Yamaha Entertainment Group
2015 The New Cool Yamaha Entertainment Group with Bob James [15]
2017Reverence Yamaha Entertainment Group

With Fourplay

YearTitleLabelNotes
1991 Fourplay Warner Bros.
1993 Between the Sheets Warner Bros.
1995 Elixir Warner Bros.
1997 The Best of Fourplay Warner Bros. compilation album
1998 4 Warner Bros.
1999 Snowbound Warner Bros.
2000 Yes, Please! Warner Bros.
2002 Heartfelt Bluebird
2004 Journey Bluebird
2006 X Bluebird
2008 Energy Heads Up
2010 Let's Touch the Sky Heads Up
2012 Esprit de Four Heads Up
2015 Silver Heads Up

Live collaborations

YearArtistShow/CollaborationMember/Guest
1971 Barry White Band Member
1971 The Love Unlimited Orchestra Band Member
1979 Patrice Rushen Band Member
1980 Lee Ritenour Band Member
1981 Hubert Laws Band Member
1982 Joe Sample Band Member
1984 Al Jarreau Band Member
1985 Kenny Loggins Live AidBand Member
1986 Eric Clapton Band Member
1991 Fourplay Band Member
1992 Eric Clapton Unplugged Band Member
1994-1997 Phil Collins Band Member
2000 Babyface UnpluggedBand Member
2006 Herbie Hancock Band Member
2010-2014 Toto Band Member
2014 Daft Punk, Stevie Wonder, Nile Rodgers, Pharrell Williams Grammy Awards Performer
2015 Eric Clapton Band Member

Related Research Articles

<i>Pilgrim</i> (Eric Clapton album) 1998 studio album by Eric Clapton

Pilgrim is the thirteenth solo studio album by the British rock musician Eric Clapton, released on 10 March 1998 for Reprise Records. The album features all-new studio-recorded material, the first to do so since Clapton's 1989 hit album Journeyman and was nominated for several music awards. Although most of the critics responded negatively to the 1998 studio effort, it was one of Clapton's most commercially successful albums, reaching the Top 10 in twenty-two countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Lukather</span> American musician (born 1957)

Steven Lee Lukather is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer, best known as the sole continuous founding member of the rock band Toto. His reputation as a skilled guitarist led to a steady flow of session work beginning in the 1970s that has since established him as a prolific session musician, recording guitar tracks for more than 1,500 albums spanning a broad array of artists and genres. He has also contributed to albums and hit singles as a songwriter, arranger and producer. Notably, Lukather played guitar on Boz Scaggs' albums Down Two Then Left (1977) and Middle Man (1980), and was a prominent contributor to several studio albums by Michael Jackson, including Thriller (1982). Lukather has released nine solo albums, the latest of which, Bridges, was released in June 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daryl Stuermer</span> Musical artist

Daryl Mark Stuermer is an American musician, songwriter, singer, and record producer best known for playing the guitar and bass for Genesis during live shows, and lead guitar for Phil Collins during most solo tours and albums. He has also released nine solo albums, and tours with his Daryl Stuermer Band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Phillinganes</span> American keyboardist and session musician

Gregory Arthur Phillinganes is an American keyboardist and arranger. A session musician, Phillinganes has contributed to numerous albums over a broad array of artists and genres. He has toured with artists including Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour and Toto, was musical director for Michael Jackson, and has released two solo studio albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Gadd</span> American drummer

Stephen Kendall Gadd is an American drummer, percussionist, and session musician. Gadd is one of the best-known and highly regarded session and studio drummers in the industry, recognized by his induction into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1984. Gadd's performances on Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover"(1976) and "Late in the Evening", Herbie Mann's "Hi-jack"(1975) and Steely Dan's "Aja"(1977) are examples of his style. He has worked with other popular musicians from many genres including Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor, Chick Corea, Chuck Mangione, Eric Clapton and Michel Petrucciani.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Stern</span> American jazz guitarist (born 1953)

Mike Stern is an American jazz guitarist. After playing with Blood, Sweat & Tears, he worked with drummer Billy Cobham, then with trumpeter Miles Davis from 1981 to 1983 and again in 1985. He then began a solo career, releasing more than a dozen albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Fairweather Low</span> Welsh singer and guitarist (born 1948)

Andrew Fairweather Low is a Welsh guitarist and singer. He was a founding member and lead singer of 1960s pop band Amen Corner, and in recent years has toured extensively with Roger Waters, Eric Clapton and Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doyle Bramhall II</span> American guitarist

Doyle Bramhall II is an American guitarist, producer and songwriter best known for his work with Eric Clapton and Roger Waters. He is the son of the songwriter and drummer Doyle Bramhall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Hungate</span> American bassist

David Hungate is an American bass guitarist noted as a member of the Los Angeles pop-rock band Toto from 1976 to 1982 and again from 2014 to 2015, and the son of judge William L. Hungate. Along with most of his Toto bandmates, Hungate did sessions on a number of hit albums of the 1970s, including Boz Scaggs's Silk Degrees and Alice Cooper's From the Inside.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Jordan (drummer)</span> American producer, musical director and musician

Steve Jordan is an American musical director, producer, songwriter, and musician. Currently, he is the drummer for the Rolling Stones. During the 1970s and 1980s, he was a member of the bands for the television shows Saturday Night Live and Late Night with David Letterman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willie Weeks</span> Musical artist

Willie Weeks is an American bass guitarist. He has gained fame performing with famous musicians in a wide variety of genres. He has been one of the most in-demand session musicians throughout his career. Weeks has also gained fame touring with many of rock's heavyweights throughout his career.

<i>Fourplay</i> (Fourplay album) 1991 studio album by Fourplay

Fourplay is the debut album by the American smooth jazz group Fourplay released in 1991 on Warner Bros. records. The album went to number 1 on the Contemporary Jazz charts, number 16 on the R&B charts and number 97 on the US Billboard 200. As an album, Fourplay has also been certified Gold in the US by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Lawson</span> American drummer (1954–2013)

William Riser III, better known as Ricky Lawson, was an American drummer and composer. A native of Detroit, Michigan, he worked extensively as a session musician, collaborating with Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Whitney Houston, Steely Dan, Earl Klugh, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds and other artists. He co-founded the jazz-fusion band Yellowjackets and won the 1987 Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance for "And You Know That" from their album Shades.

<i>Between the Sheets</i> (Fourplay album) 1993 studio album by Fourplay

Between the Sheets is the second studio album of the jazz group Fourplay which was released in August 1993 on Warner Bros. Records. The album peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart and No. 15 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart. Between the Sheets has sold over 500,000 copies in the United States and has thus been certified gold by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Ain't Gonna Stand for It</span>

"I Ain't Gonna Stand for It" is the second single from Stevie Wonder's 1980 album, Hotter Than July. It reached number four on the Billboard R&B singles chart and number 11 on the Hot 100. It also hit number 10 on the UK Singles Chart. The song is famous for Wonder's imitation of a seasoned country-and-western crooner and his inspiring drumming. Charlie and Ronnie Wilson of The Gap Band provide backing vocals on the song. It was covered by Eric Clapton in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Robinson (drummer)</span> American drummer

John Frederick Robinson, known professionally as JR, is an American drummer and session musician who has been called "one of the most recorded drummers in history". He is known for his work with producer Quincy Jones, including Michael Jackson's multi-platinum Off the Wall album and the charity single "We Are the World". JR's drum fill kicks off Jackson's chart topper "Rock with You", and his drum solo opens the Steve Winwood album Back in the High Life (1986) to begin the number 1 song "Higher Love".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Gero</span>

Chris Gero is a Grammy nominated American music industry executive, concert producer, record producer, songwriter, film director and composer, founder of the Yamaha Entertainment Group of America, and Chief Artist Relations Executive for Yamaha Artist Relations Group. He is responsible for the management and branding of Yamaha's global roster, having signed more than 3,600 artists to contract to date. Gero oversees Yamaha's artist collaborations, including Elton John, Alicia Keys, Paul McCartney, Norah Jones, Josh Groban, Sarah McLachlan, Sheryl Crow, John Legend, and Ben Folds.

<i>Nathan East</i> (album) 2014 studio album by Nathan East

Nathan East is the debut eponymous album by American bass guitarist Nathan East, released in March 2014 by the Yamaha Entertainment Group. The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Albums chart and No. 2 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.

References

  1. 1 2 "After 1,500 records, Nathan East hits it big with debut". Tennessean.com. May 23, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  2. "Nathan East | Credits". AllMusic . December 8, 1955. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Bobby Womack - if you think you're lonely now". Basles.be.
  4. Jisi, Chris (January 8, 2020). "Men in the mirror: the bassists of Michael Jackson". guitarworld. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  5. "NATHAN EAST: EAST, OF THE SON". Jazzweekly.com. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  6. "2015 Eric Clapton Tour and Set List Archive". Whereseric.com. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  7. "Yamaha Entertainment Group of America". Yamahaentertainmentgroup.com. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  8. "Daft Punk Bassist Nathan East Readies Solo Debut". Billboard.com. March 25, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  9. "Eric Clapton Kicks Off 2023 Tokyo Residency - Where's Eric!". Whereseric.com. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  10. 1 2 "Eric Clapton and Nathan East endorse Cream of Clapton Band, which features East's son and Clapton's nephew". San Diego Union-Tribune . April 28, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  11. "Interview - Nathan East". Forbassplayersonly.com. April 7, 2014. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  12. "Product announcement - 64 Audio N8 custom in-ear monitor". mixonline.com. August 8, 2019.
  13. "Nathan East Honored By U.S. House of Representatives". Yamaha.com. Retrieved October 21, 2018.
  14. "Nathan East & Fourplay Honored By U.S. Congress". July 7, 2007. Archived from the original on July 7, 2007. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  15. Andy Kellman (September 18, 2015). "The New Cool - Bob James, Nathan East | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved January 18, 2017.