Who is the most famous person you have played with?

dangnewt · #1 08-31-2006, 07:32 PM

This is primarily aimed at semi-pros and amateurs.

For me, it is Shirley Lewis. She is a well-respected blues singer in New England and she used to attend my church.

She called me out of the audience at a local gig to play on a song (having heard me play - this was a huge leap of faith on her part!).

It was the first time I ever played bass before people who had paid their way in. I was nervous as hell but I think it went well enough. Shirley is a very warm-hearted woman and a great entertainer - well worth catching her show if you live around here.

EBMatt · #2 08-31-2006, 07:35 PM

My band opened for Crossfade last year

The Owl · #3 08-31-2006, 07:52 PM

I did a recording session with Little Joe Cook in November of 2001.

http://www.agent0007.com/Promo/Oldie...-Thrillers.htm

http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/...s/02919097.htm

dangnewt · #4 08-31-2006, 07:59 PM

Matt - be sure to PM me when you get another Boston-area show.

Owl - I heard Little Joe Cook playing at the Cantab a couple of weeks ago. I was actually there watching the door for my friends band that was playing downstairs while LJC was upstairs. Small world!

Dave · #5 08-31-2006, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EBMatt

My band opened for Crossfade last year

Wow, thats pretty cool.

My band has opened for Ryan Horne and Sai Collins before.

Wesley R · #6 08-31-2006, 08:06 PM

pretty cool for a high school kid and it got me out of English small group!

Best of Luck,
Wesley R.

Jazzin' · #7 08-31-2006, 08:06 PM

Nathan Cepelinski - Alto Saxophone

Look out for him in the Canada and NorthEast USA area. He's starting his first year of Berklee in Boston. Any of you people starting out at Berklee music, try to find him. It's a good idea to know him.

bassbengoa · #8 08-31-2006, 08:08 PM

Hmmm.... maybe...

Nop, that's it

EBMatt · #9 08-31-2006, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dangnewt

Matt - be sure to PM me when you get another Boston-area show.

Will do bro. That show was at the palladium in Worcester. But if we get any Boston area shows, I'll definately let you know. For anyone who wants to hear us or wants to know when we are playing, go to www.myspace.com/esthetic We don't have that many shows right now cuz we got a new singer, but we will definately have some soon.

Woodchuck · #10 08-31-2006, 08:22 PM

Did a session for India.Arie, played for the Last Poets (3 songs), and played 1 song (That Girl) with Stevie Wonder at an MLK, Jr. b'day celebration.

tommixx · #11 08-31-2006, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodchuck

Did a session for India.Arie, played for the Last Poets (3 songs), and played 1 song (That Girl) with Stevie Wonder at an MLK, Jr. b'day celebration.

Stevie was one of the only people I was ever starstruck over!! Such a figure...I did the Super Bowl Pre show and Tailgate party and Coach of the Year Party in 94 (Atlanta) with Chaka Khan and the B-52s and Stevie came in as a special guest and Chaka didn't even tell us!! Talk about pressure!! Superstitious WITH STEVIE WONDER!!! We did like 3 songs (to pick from) for air and then like another 3 or 4 for the Live audience. It was one of the coolest things I have ever done and totally spontaneous! Stevie is an inspiration in a lot of ways and he amazes me every time I see him put himself into something...Congrats on a cool gig!!

Peace,

T

tommixx · #12 08-31-2006, 08:51 PM

A bunch! But my favorites are:

Prince - A true Genius in a World that throws the word around FAR too freely!!
Luther V - One of the kindest people to work for! He gave you your own room whether you used it or not!!
Elton John - Actually a VERY Funny guy and a lot more down to earth than he wants you to know...
Patti LaBelle - THE Original DIVA if there ever was one...The only "Star" I ever worked with that actually loves her crew enough to cook for them and pamper them herself (almost EVERY night of the tour!!!!!) She even carries her own road case filled with spices and stuff!!!

and of course Stevie Wonder!!! - What can you say??? I mean we are talking about STEVIE!!!!

Peace,

T

Woodchuck · #13 08-31-2006, 08:55 PM

He is a great guy. I told him that I a HUGE Nate Watts fan, and after the gig he jokingly said that Nate better watch out. Of course Nate would beat me silly with my own bass!

tommixx · #14 08-31-2006, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodchuck

He is a great guy. I told him that I a HUGE Nate Watts fan, and after the gig he jokingly said that Nate better watch out. Of course Nate would beat me silly with my own bass!

LOL! I think he actually likes Sadowskys too so maybe he would use something else????

Peace,

T

Alexander · #15 08-31-2006, 09:03 PM

I played at a jam session with the guitar player and drummer from the Kingsmen (Louie, Louie)

Nipper · #16 09-01-2006, 06:41 AM

KJung · #17 09-01-2006, 06:51 AM

I did a couple of years with Phil Driscoll quite a while back... great band and an interesting guy. I guess he is quite big in the Gospel area now, but he was a pure rocker back then.

I also did a couple of years in the house band at a club in St. Louis with Lavell Bell on drums, who has been with Keb Mo now for a number of years. Stunningly good drummer!

I was also lucky enough to play many gigs over the years with the amazing Jay Oliver, who went on to play keyboard for everyone from the Eagles to Dave Weckl. AMAZING talent.

Finally, I still am lucky enough on occasion to play with the amazing drummer Roger Guth when he's slumming on casual gigs. He's been Jimmy Buffet's drummer for many years now, and is starting to play on some pretty serious sessions in Nashville when he's not on the road.

I don't know if any of the above are really 'famous', but I feel lucky to have spent time playing with these guys. All of the above are the types of players who elevate the performance of those around them.

Edit: As a side note as I was thinking about this (and thanks to the thread originator for posting this topic... I haven't thought about some of the above gigs in a while!).... it really hits me how different (and worse) the current gigging situation is for young players (all players for that matter). In looking at what I wrote above, I'm talking about 6 night a week gigs that ran for YEARS! This was very typical through the 70's and much of the 80's... you could get a 'house band' gig that would run for 2, 3, 4 years and would pay more per night than most 'one off' bar gigs do today. Dinner was usually included in the deal, and in the the case of the gig I did with Phil Driscoll, room and board was included. Let me make that clear... all living expenses were paid... you were provided with a room, and a very nice per dium...for years! Not much of that going on any more.....

The Owl · #18 09-01-2006, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dangnewt

Owl - I heard Little Joe Cook playing at the Cantab a couple of weeks ago. I was actually there watching the door for my friends band that was playing downstairs while LJC was upstairs. Small world!

Mega cool!! LJC will NEVER cease to amaze me, he's survived 2 heart attacks and one stroke and he's STILL doin' it!! Really unique person for sure! I hada blast at that recording session!

ONly other even remotely famous person I've played with was a former drummer of Hootie and The Blowfish.

Gard · #19 09-01-2006, 08:33 AM

Sammy Hagar (one song, "Black & Blue" at his club Cabo Wabo, in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico)
Tito Puente, Jr. (2 years as his "road bassist")

dangnewt · #20 09-01-2006, 08:51 AM

Great replies, everyone. Great mix of locally and regionally known and national and international superstars.

I had a few thoughts when I initially posted - like how Chuck Berry would tour without a band and enlist a local outfit at each stop. I was also wondering if there were a Pete Best story out there (although that could be very painful to admit). I also wondered if there might be someone who was in a junior high band (for example, Bill Gates was our keyboardist - we could have been big, but was spending too much time putting together that Heathkit computer and we went our separate ways!)

Thanks for sharing.
Can I claim 1 degree of (virtual) separation from Prince, Stevie Wonder, Elton John et al?