James Jamerson Jr. (born James L. Jamerson III; August 24, 1957 – March 23, 2016) was an American bass player and noted studio musician. During his over three-decades long career he recorded with Bob Dylan, Tavares, The Temptations, and many more.

Life and career

Jamerson Jr. was born in Detroit to legendary session bass player James Jamerson, a cornerstone member of Motown's famed house band, The Funk Brothers. In the early 1970s, Jamerson, Jr. became an in-demand session bassist. In the next three decades he played on the studio albums by

Janet Jackson Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreog ...

Smokey Robinson William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive director. He was the founder and front man of the Motown vocal group the Miracles, for which he was also chief ...

, and

Aretha Franklin Aretha Louise Franklin ( ; March 25, 1942 – August 16, 2018) was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. Referred to as the " Queen of Soul", she has twice been placed ninth in ''Rolling Stone''s "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". With ...

, to name a few. In the late 1970s, he formed a studio

disco Disco is a genre of dance music and a subculture that emerged in the 1970s from the United States' urban nightlife scene. Its sound is typified by four-on-the-floor beats, syncopated basslines, string sections, brass and horns, electric pia ...

group, Chanson, along with guitarist David Williams. Their only charted single, "Don't Hold Back" reached No. 21 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in 1979 and No. 18 in Canada. Jamerson died in Detroit on March 23, 2016, at age 58. He had suffered for years with ankylosing spondylitis.

Selected discography

With Tavares * '' Check It Out'' (1974) With

Sylvester Sylvester or Silvester is a name derived from the Latin adjective ''silvestris'' meaning "wooded" or "wild", which derives from the noun ''silva'' meaning "woodland". Classical Latin spells this with ''i''. In Classical Latin, ''y'' represented a ...

* ''

Step II ''Step II'' is the fourth studio album by American singer Sylvester, released in 1978 on the Fantasy label. Commercial performance The album peaked at No. 7 on the R&B albums chart. It also reached No. 28 on the ''Billboard'' 200. The album feat ...

'' (1978) With High Inergy * ''

Shoulda Gone Dancin' ''Shoulda Gone Dancin' '' was the third album by High Inergy and the first after the departure of lead vocalist Vernessa Mitchell. Now reduced to a trio, this album features Barbara Mitchell (Vernessa's sister) on lead vocals. It peaked at #72 ...

'' (1979) With The Crusaders with B.B. King and the

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London, that performs and produces primarily classic works. The RPO was established by Thomas Beecham in 1946. In its early days, the orchestra secured profitable ...

* '' Royal Jam'' (1981) With

* ''

'' (1982) With DeBarge * '' In a Special Way'' (1983) With

* '' Touch the Sky'' (1983) With Teena Marie * '' Starchild'' (1984) With The Temptations * '' Truly for You'' (1984) With Philip Bailey * '' The Wonders of His Love'' (1985) With Bob Dylan * ''

Knocked Out Loaded ''Knocked Out Loaded'' is the 24th studio album by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, released on July 14, 1986 by Columbia Records. The album was received poorly upon release, and is still considered by some critics to be one of Dylan's leas ...

'' (1986) With

* '' Aretha'' (1986) With Wayne Kramer * ''

The Hard Stuff ''The Hard Stuff'' is the thirteenth studio album by George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was released on May 30, 2006, on the Eagle Records label. The album peaked at No. 27 on the ''Billboard'' charts. It was their first album recorded af ...

'' (1995)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Jamerson, James Jr. (guitarist) 1957 births 2016 deaths 20th-century American bass guitarists 20th-century American male musicians 21st-century American bass guitarists 21st-century American male musicians African-American guitarists American session musicians Deaths from arthritis Musicians from Detroit American rhythm and blues bass guitarists American male bass guitarists 20th-century African-American musicians 21st-century African-American musicians