Is Randy Jackson the most Successful Bassist of all Time?

[Dr. Cheese]

I thought about this the other day when I was in Wal-Mart, and I saw an ad for Randy Jackson model glasses at the vision center.

Although bassist/singers like Paul McCartney and Sting are probably (I'm not sure) richer, I cannot think of any bassist who has had more success at more levels of the music industry than Randy Jackson. He is a world class player. He was a member of a major touring and recording group. He has been a top level musical director for major artists. He was a very successful producer. He was a major recording executive. He has become a reality tv star.

[jebmd]

But Gene Simmons has done pretty good as well.

[Rattman]

"Most successful of all times?" No, but he is well-established and a seasoned pro for certain.

[WalterBush]

I suppose that's up to how you measure, "success."

He's probably shared a stage with as many major names as Sting and Paul McCartney have, but a lot of his success has NOT been as a bass player. I'm sure his Wal-Mart deal has more to do with American Idol than his studio credentials.

[Steelpulz]

When you think about the breadth of Mr. Jackson's accomplishments, you might be right.

[totallybacan]

I think the OP was just suggesting that thanks to his profession in music, he has reached the level of fame that he has now. I'm sure that if he wasn't a bass player and "moved up" early on he would be nowhere close. So ultimately it is a result of him playing bass IMO

[RexNFX79]

Originally Posted by WalterBush

I suppose that's up to how you measure, "success."

He's probably shared a stage with as many major names as Sting and Paul McCartney have, but a lot of his success has NOT been as a bass player. I'm sure his Wal-Mart deal has more to do with American Idol than his studio credentials.

Agreed, the majority of his success has nothing to do with his bass playing. As a bass player, I don't think he's even in the top fifty. 99% of the people in this country didn't even know who he was until that crap reality show.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by RexNFX79

Agreed, the majority of his success has nothing to do with his bass playing. As a bass player, I don't think he's even in the top fifty. 99% of the people in this country didn't even know who he was until that crap reality show.

He being a bass player did play a part in his overall success in the industry.

Randy at one point was one of the busiest and most requested bass players in the industry(live,studio and touring).


And the industry very well knew who Randy Jackson was way before he made it to AI.

Every one who knows Randy(in the industry where it really matters) has nothing but the highest level of respect for him and his many talents.

He really was a music mogul years before AI existed and that is what helped him land the AI gig. And from there he came to the minds of America's(and foreign) house holds with the type of show that AI was becoming and from that,there was no where else to go but onto the threshold of pop culture.

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by RexNFX79

Agreed, the majority of his success has nothing to do with his bass playing. As a bass player, I don't think he's even in the top fifty. 99% of the people in this country didn't even know who he was until that crap reality show.

He may not be a top fifty player now, but Randy Jackson was a product of a monster jazz program at Southern University (Louisiana) and was tutored by Chuck Rainey as part of a grant program. He followed Ralphe Armstrong with Jean Luc Ponty which should tell you all you need to know about his ability!

BTW, I do mean that he parlayed his success as bassist into a hugely successful and varied career.

[T-MOST]

Randy jackson has a grade A resume' as a bassist without a doubt. But you can say the same for many bassists. Marcus Miller, Daryll Jones and Sting come to mind. Marcus wrote, produced and played for Miles, Luther and a thousand others. Daryll played with Miles, Sting and many others. Then scored big by landing the Stones $$$ tours "Ca-ching!!" Then you have someone like Sting. He probably has as much money as Randy but, unlike randy made 99% of it by writing, producing and playing music. I would bet 90% of Randy's success (which many define as wealth) has come from being a judge on American Idol (and the like) and has nothing to do with actually playing bass, or writing or even producing music.

[HailCorduroy]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

I thought about this the other day when I was in Wal-Mart, and I saw an ad for Randy Jackson model glasses at the vision center.

Although bassist/singers like Paul McCartney and Sting are probably (I'm not sure) richer, I cannot think of any bassist who has had more success at more levels of the music industry than Randy Jackson. He is a world class player. He was a member of a major touring and recording group. He has been a top level musical director for major artists. He was a very successful producer. He was a major recording executive. He has become a reality tv star.

Randy, is that you?

[Mark Wilson]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

He being a bass player did play a part in his overall success in the industry.

Randy at one point was one of the busiest and most requested bass players in the industry(live,studio and touring).


And the industry very well knew who Randy Jackson was way before he made it to AI.

Every one who knows Randy(in the industry where it really matters) has nothing but the highest level of respect for him and his many talents.

He really was a music mogul years before AI existed and that is what helped him land the AI gig. And from there he came to the minds of America's(and foreign) house holds with the type of show that AI was becoming and from that,there was no where else to go but onto the threshold of pop culture.

+1

And, he played in Journey!

[john turner]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

I thought about this the other day when I was in Wal-Mart, and I saw an ad for Randy Jackson model glasses at the vision center.

Although bassist/singers like Paul McCartney and Sting are probably (I'm not sure) richer, I cannot think of any bassist who has had more success at more levels of the music industry than Randy Jackson. He is a world class player. He was a member of a major touring and recording group. He has been a top level musical director for major artists. He was a very successful producer. He was a major recording executive. He has become a reality tv star.

i don't really think he's in the top 10, but i guess that'd be mainly how you define success.

on some level, calling him "The worlds most successful bassist" would be like calling stephen king "the worlds most successful rhythm guitarist".

[scowboy]

I'd like to know what percentage of people who watch AI even know he started out as a bass player?

Originally Posted by RexNFX79

Agreed, the majority of his success has nothing to do with his bass playing. As a bass player, I don't think he's even in the top fifty. 99% of the people in this country didn't even know who he was until that crap reality show.

[scowboy]

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

+1

And, he played in Journey!

With a really bad haircut!

[RexNFX79]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

He may not be a top fifty player now, but Randy Jackson was a product of a monster jazz program at Southern University (Louisiana) and was tutored by Chuck Rainey as part of a grant program. He followed Ralphe Armstrong with Jean Luc Ponty which should tell you all you need to know about his ability!

BTW, I do mean that he parlayed his success as bassist into a hugely successful and varied career.

Wait, I didn't say the dude couldn't play. The question had nothing to do with ability. Randy is not even close in terms of success as a bass player to the all time top spot. As a celebrity, he might be one of the more successful guys that happens to also be a bassist. That might be a better way to put it. I stand by my statement that American Idol sucks BTW.

[MoEllis]

I gotta say marcus miller has him beat, in some degree. Marcus has played with a ton of heavy hitters in jazz, pop, r&b, funk, fusion, etc. Plus he has his solo career, his recording career (he's on a billion peoples records) his composing for people like Luther Vandros, his film scoring, He's probably touched every aspect of the industry.

[Steelpulz]

I was at Southern U. when Randy was there. Then, as now, there are not many bassist who can out groove Randy. Marcus, Victor... nobody.

[WalterBush]

Originally Posted by RexNFX79

Agreed, the majority of his success has nothing to do with his bass playing. As a bass player, I don't think he's even in the top fifty. 99% of the people in this country didn't even know who he was until that crap reality show.

I didn't say it had nothing to do with his success...without that massive foot in the door he wouldn't be where he is now, or known the people he needed to know to be on board with American Idol. Networking matters.

I'm just not sure he was the most successful as a bass player. The man wouldn't have been in a position to do what he's done without being known as a fantastic bassist with an ear for what works.

EDIT: Having just searched for his recording credits, it seems that even though he's done lots of high-profile stuff in the music industry including a stint as Senior VP at Columbia, he's had far, far more TV appearances, guest spots, and voice-overs, etc since joining American Idol than he had work as a bassist in the '70s and '80s. With the strange record keeping at record companies regarding TV soundtracks, commercials, etc in that time period, though, it's difficult to say for sure.

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by MoEllis

I gotta say marcus miller has him beat, in some degree. Marcus has played with a ton of heavy hitters in jazz, pop, r&b, funk, fusion, etc. Plus he has his solo career, his recording career (he's on a billion peoples records) his composing for people like Luther Vandros, his film scoring, He's probably touched every aspect of the industry.

Just like Randy has.

Rand for a while was even the head of a major record label. Putting new artist on the map while producing and song writing,etc.

Industry wise the only thing Randy hasn't done(yet any way) was be a solo artist. He has covered pretty much every other aspect of the industry.

A true music mogul who for many years(before AI) worked with the highest level of power under the radar.