Stevie Wonder bass players

[scollins149]

I know Jamerson and Babbet both played on SW tunes in the early days. I'm wondering if anyone knows who played on "That's What Christmas Means to ME". I thinks James would have kicked it a bit more. Thanks in advance. Steve

Fender Jazz
Jay Turser (Hofner style, and actually sounds great with flats)

[clicheband]

nate watts played a lot of years with stevie wonder

[MuzikMan]

"What Christmas Means to Me" has that Jamerson tone but I know what you mean, it is played straighter than what you would expect from him. BTW let me give a shout out to Scott Edwards who also played bass for Stevie in the early 70's. Check him out on the Sesame Street videos.

[fokof]

For me , the best bass player who played for SW is himself.

His moog lines are killer !

[scollins149]

Must have been James? But doesn't really swing like him.

[scottgedwards]

Hey Dudes. Here's the schedule on Stevie Wonder Bass players as much as I know. Jamerson, Bob Babbitt and Tony Newton played on Stevie's albums until 1969 in Detroit. Bob Babbitt played on Signed, Sealed and Delivered in 1970. On the road with Stevie, Michael Henderson(the singer) played until Miles Davis called him in spring of 1970. I, Scott Edwards, joined Stevie in summer of 1970 and stayed until fall of 1973 and played on Sunshine Of My Life, Sesame Street Children's Program and All Is Fair In Love. I quit in fall of 1973 and moved to L.A. Reggie Mcbride was from fall of 1973 until sometime in 1974 or 1975. After that Nathan Watts came and is still there to the present. Hope this helps.
Scott Edwards

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by scottgedwards

Hey Dudes. Here's the schedule on Stevie Wonder Bass players as much as I know. Jamerson, Bob Babbitt and Tony Newton played on Stevie's albums until 1969 in Detroit. Bob Babbitt played on Signed, Sealed and Delivered in 1970. On the road with Stevie, Michael Henderson(the singer) played until Miles Davis called him in spring of 1970. I, Scott Edwards, joined Stevie in summer of 1970 and stayed until fall of 1973 and played on Sunshine Of My Life, Sesame Street Children's Program and All Is Fair In Love. I quit in fall of 1973 and moved to L.A. Reggie Mcbride was from fall of 1973 until sometime in 1974 or 1975. After that Nathan Watts came and is still there to the present. Hope this helps.
Scott Edwards

That settles it!

[MuzikMan]

It's great to hear from you Scott! But we still don't know who played on "What Christmas Means to Me"

[Randy Newton]

On the '73 album Innervisions, Malcolm Cecil played upright bass on 'Visions', Scott Edwards played on 'All In Love Is Fair' and Willie Weeks played on 'He's Misstra Know-It-All'.

[scottgedwards]

Originally Posted by scollins149

I know Jamerson and Babbet both played on SW tunes in the early days. I'm wondering if anyone knows who played on "That's What Christmas Means to ME". I thinks James would have kicked it a bit more. Thanks in advance. Steve

Fender Jazz
Jay Turser (Hofner style, and actually sounds great with flats)

Fellas. In my previous quote I forgot to answer the question who played on Stevie Wonder's "That's What Christmas Means to ME". I believe it was Jamerson. The tonality, attack and moves were characteristically him. In the middle of the tune, the bass player does some traditionally upright moves. Bob Babbitt also played upright but I believe it was Jamerson. I'll call Babbitt and ask him and let you know.
Scott

[OldDog52]

Talk about having connections!

[chuck norriss]

Originally Posted by scottgedwards

Hey Dudes. Here's the schedule on Stevie Wonder Bass players as much as I know. Jamerson, Bob Babbitt and Tony Newton played on Stevie's albums until 1969 in Detroit. Bob Babbitt played on Signed, Sealed and Delivered in 1970. On the road with Stevie, Michael Henderson(the singer) played until Miles Davis called him in spring of 1970. I, Scott Edwards, joined Stevie in summer of 1970 and stayed until fall of 1973 and played on Sunshine Of My Life, Sesame Street Children's Program and All Is Fair In Love. I quit in fall of 1973 and moved to L.A. Reggie Mcbride was from fall of 1973 until sometime in 1974 or 1975. After that Nathan Watts came and is still there to the present. Hope this helps.
Scott Edwards

Awesome!
Respect!

[scottgedwards]

Hello. I spoke to Babbitt and tried to get him to post here himself, but he had trouble finding the post. Anyway he listened to the song and said it sounded like Jamerson to him. Hope this narrows the answer down.
Scott

[One Drop]

Hi Scott! I get such a kick from your groove, great to see you here.

Is this you as well? Must have been just before you left:

YouTube - Stevie Wonder - He's Misstra Know-It-All (Live)

edited to add:

I found your website, I had no idea you played on so many monster hits outside of Stevie Wonder material! Yours should be a household name.

http://scottedwardsmusic.com/favorite.htm

Thanks again for all the music. Do you still play out?

[scottgedwards]

Hello. Thanks for the compliment on things I played on. On the Stevie Wonder video on YouTube of "He's Mistra Know It All", I had quit Stevie in August 1973 and Reggie McBride took my place and that's him in that you-tube video. He's from Detroit, also like Jamerson, Nathan Watts and Tony Newton. The music business is so unmusical now, I don't do a lot of playing publicly, but maybe in the future. Thanks again.
Scott

[slab neck]

Hi Scott
Good to see you here!
Ive been studying the line you did toThe Miracles "love machine". It's a really special and unique bassline imho, really inspiring! What tuning did you use?

[slab neck]

OMG- Theme from Swat too! I'm an old hip-hop lover at heart and that tune is one of the essential 'breaks'
Respect to you Sir!

[One Drop]

Originally Posted by scottgedwards

Hello. Thanks for the compliment on things I played on. On the Stevie Wonder video on YouTube of "He's Mistra Know It All", I had quit Stevie in August 1973 and Reggie McBride took my place and that's him in that you-tube video. He's from Detroit, also like Jamerson, Nathan Watts and Tony Newton. The music business is so unmusical now, I don't do a lot of playing publicly, but maybe in the future. Thanks again.
Scott

Thanks for the response.

If you have the time you really should share some experiences of your time in the music business with us. I'm sure many of us are as interested as I am.

[BassLand]

I am so thankful this thread did not (up to this point) contain a post with statements like "didn't Carol Kaye....?". Finally I think most people are getting it, "She DIDN"T" LOL

[scottgedwards]

To Slab Neck on tuning for "Love Machine" - I tuned the E-string down to E flat which after playing with Stevie Wonder for three years and E flat, back then being one of his default keys, I was good at playing the tuning G,D, A and E flat. Thanks for asking
Scott