Where's the famous singing bassists in Country and Jazz?

Thunderthumbs73 · #1 11-19-2009, 01:57 PM

Famous singing bassists:
I think of Sting, Mark King, Brian Wilson, Paul McCartney, Doug Pinnick, Geddy Lee, Colin Moulding, and the list goes on and on for pop/rock music, and no need to name all in pop and rock, please. But... ...trying to think of famous singing bassists in country, jazz, who fit this criteria, if any:

-The singer must be the primary bassist for most of the songs, in the studio and live.
-The bassist must be the lead singer for at least a significant portion of the songs 40-50% or more, and have the same percentage of visibility and notoriety as the frontman in those arrangements.

You know what I'm saying.

I feel so many of my favorite bassists are singers (or vice-versa), and I've not been able to nail down famous singing bassists in other genres. Sting, Mark King and Macca have all been role models for me, but I've always done more than pop and rock- looking for suitable role models in other genres.

Right now in terms of the country genre, for instance, I'm all over Vince Gill's singing, and Michael Rhodes' playing, but found nobody suitable in the genre who covers both roles of singer and bassist. As far as I can tell, uncharted territory, still waiting to be explored.

The best I can think of right now is Timothy B. Schmit, who is a legit lead singer and bassist who aside from the Eagles (and ALL those guys sang and wrote), has solo albums, and has significant country-rock background. He's never really led a Country band, even though he has done some great work with Eagles, Poco, and his solo albums, however. Not a perfect match or answer, but as close as I can get, on the Country side.
TB to the rescue?

motherlode · #2 11-19-2009, 02:07 PM

Jeffrey Steele, used to be in a band called Boy Howdy, he was lead singer and bassist, Terry McBride, formerly of McBride & The Ride, was a lead singer and bassist, currently touring with Brooks & Dunn, both by the way, incredible songwriters with tons of hits under their belts. Colin Raye is also a bass player, and sometimes is bassist on tour with a stripped down band.

JTE · #3 11-19-2009, 02:09 PM

John Cowan. GREAT singer, and a wonderful bassist too. Mostly known for his work with New Grass Revival, which had a banjo player named Bela Fleck... He also hooked up for a while the Bill Lloyd (of Foster & Lloyd), George Grantham, and Rusty Young (both from Poco) in The Sky Kings.

Other than that, not many I can think of. Why? Because there really aren't a lot of real country bands. It's the singer and the hired guns who can change pretty frequently.

John

Hammertime3 · #4 11-19-2009, 02:09 PM

Tony Booth..played with a lot of good ones, and still is as far as I know. Great singer in the style of Johnny Bush and the old "shuffle beat" songs of Ray Price. Hear him a lot on Willie's Place, XM Radio.
Last time I saw him he was in Gene Watson's band, but I don't believe he is now.

millsbass5 · #5 11-19-2009, 02:18 PM

What about the cat from the band "Alabama"??What's his name??

Kelly Coyle · #6 11-19-2009, 02:23 PM

Kenny Rogers.

Edit: Well, at least with the First Edition.

http://smej.se/kenny_rogers_the_first_edition_ruby.2f7d

Ed Fuqua · #7 11-19-2009, 02:55 PM

Jazz- Slam Stewart, Major Holley, Jay Leonhart, Kristin Korb, Nikki Parrot, Jim Ferguson...

Funky Ghost · #8 11-19-2009, 03:25 PM

Don't forget Waylon Jennings in the "I didn't know that!" Kenny Rogers vein. He played for Buddy Holly after the Crickets broke up.

JTE · #9 11-19-2009, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by millsbass5

What about the cat from the band "Alabama"??What's his name??

Teddy Gentry, but he wasn't lead singer on much of their material.

Waylon didn't play bass any that I know of after he started his career as a singer. Just the modded Tele with the Scruggs tuners and the leather pickguard. But, yeah, he played bass for Buddy Holly on the last tour. And Kenny Rogers, before he became sold as "country" played bass and was lead singer for The First Edition.

John

funkydanbass · #10 11-19-2009, 03:47 PM

Jazz: Esperanza Spalding and +1 for John Cowan (country).

Funky Ghost · #11 11-19-2009, 03:59 PM

I'm too lazy to google him, ( posting at work too!!

) but isn't Paul Gregg a lead vocal / bass player ? I kept thinking from Blackhawk, but I'm pretty sure he was from Restless Heart, who had the same singer.

justabass · #12 11-19-2009, 04:03 PM

John Rich was bassist and one of the two lead vocalist's for Lonestar.

NKUSigEp · #13 11-19-2009, 04:08 PM

Wille Dixon - I know he wasn't much of a jazz or country guy but blues is different than the standard pop and rock affair.

countrybassist · #14 11-20-2009, 09:19 AM

Jay does some singing with Rascal Flatts.