Bassist Wayne Douglas Played on "Misdemeanor"

[Marvalous]

I am a songwriter who joined this forum let you all know who played bass on "Misdemeanor." Back in the day it was not unusual for session players who could read to play on a recording, but those names often did not make the LP credits. Accordingly, The son of the man who did play bass on it told me that it pained his dad that so many made assumptions on who the musician was. His name was Wayne Douglas. I was in a band with him way back in the day where he was our bassist. "Misdemeanor" was produced by Jerry Peters, who also was a band member and the late Keg Johnson, a former member of our band. -- Prior to Wayne joining "Black Magic," Jerry and Wayne wrote "A Little Togetherness" for The Young hearts and you can hear Wayne playing on that composition. I co-wrote a song with Jerry and the late Anita Porée, which is also on youtube, where you can listen to Wayne: ("Pershing Square" by Black Magic). He was awesomely talented! -- After the Black Magic group did not hit commercially, everyone went on to other projects. Jerry produced an album on himself where he recorded his hit "Going In Circles" among other songs and Wayne played bass on that project. I saw a thread where someone thought the player was Henry "Spider" Davis, who I went to high school with,, but it was not Spider. I also saw a thread on Ron Brown aka "The West Coast Jamerson." I interviewed Ron on his career/ the time he spent with Jamerson for a magazine called "Soul Up North." Last time I spoke with him he was living outside the US.

 

[JimmyM]

Sorry about the loss of your low end friend.

 

[Gluvhand]

I am not sure what you mean about "low end." Wayne was an accomplished musician, who worked often because he was such a good sight reader with the ability to improvise. He did a lot of work in Detroit appearing live on a Martha and The Vandellas recording. He was also a member of the Ice Man's band, who backed up Jerry Butler. That band is pictured below - Top L-R_ Ira Gates (drums) Reginald "Sonny" Burke (keyboards) Robert "Boogie" Bowles (guitar) Wayne Douglas (bass). When he passed, his nephew Marc Scarborough (son of the late Skip Scarborough) posted that Wayne had also worked with Aretha Franklin and Smokey Robinson, amongst many others. He passed away in 2016.

"Low End"= Bass. Nothing derogatory meant.

 

[JimmyM]

I am not sure what you mean about "low end." Wayne was an accomplished musician, who worked often because he was such a good sight reader with the ability to improvise. He did a lot of work in Detroit appearing live on a Martha and The Vandellas recording. He was also a member of the Ice Man's band, who backed up Jerry Butler. That band is pictured below - Top L-R_ Ira Gates (drums) Reginald "Sonny" Burke (keyboards) Robert "Boogie" Bowles (guitar) Wayne Douglas (bass). When he passed, his nephew Marc Scarborough (son of the late Skip Scarborough) posted that Wayne had also worked with Aretha Franklin and Smokey Robinson, amongst many others. He passed away in 2016.

Low end = bass. A compliment, not an insult.

 

[Marvalous]

Sorry about the loss of your low end friend.

Not sure what "low end" means, but Wayne was the brother in law of the late Skip Scarborough. He worked with many in the business and was well respected due to his sight reading ability/ ability. He worked in and out of the studio. The photo is him (sitting on right) when he was a member of Jerry Butler's Ice Man's Band. Invalid Link Removed.

 

[Marvalous]

"Low End"= Bass. Nothing derogatory meant.

Low end = bass. A compliment, not an insult.

I posted twice..saying the same thing twice. Obviously, I am not a bass player. I put lyrics to music. I just wanted to give my late friend his props as he never got them when he was walking this earth. Thanks for educating me. This will probably me my only posts as I am like a fish out of water in this forum. And I don't know how to delete the other post. I'll make my exit now and thanks to all.

 

[Marvalous]

Sorry about the loss of your low end friend.

I did not realize that was a compliment so I apologize! (I am a lyricist, not a bass player.). Just wanted to give Wayne his props.

 

[Marvalous]

"Low End"= Bass. Nothing derogatory meant.

Thank you for educating me. Obviously, I do't play bass. Just got in this forum to rep Wayne and his work.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I am a songwriter who joined this forum let you all know who played bass on "Misdemeanor." Back in the day it was not unusual for session players who could read to play on a recording, but those names often did not make the LP credits. Accordingly, The son of the man who did play bass on it told me that it pained his dad that so many made assumptions on who the musician was. His name was Wayne Douglas. I was in a band with him way back in the day where he was our bassist. "Misdemeanor" was produced by Jerry Peters, who also was a band member and the late Keg Johnson, a former member of our band. -- Prior to Wayne joining "Black Magic," Jerry and Wayne wrote "A Little Togetherness" for The Young hearts and you can hear Wayne playing on that composition. I co-wrote a song with Jerry and the late Anita Porée, which is also on youtube, where you can listen to Wayne: ("Pershing Square" by Black Magic). He was awesomely talented! -- After the Black Magic group did not hit commercially, everyone went on to other projects. Jerry produced an album on himself where he recorded his hit "Going In Circles" among other songs and Wayne played bass on that project. I saw a thread where someone thought the player was Henry "Spider" Davis, who I went to high school with,, but it was not Spider. I also saw a thread on Ron Brown aka "The West Coast Jamerson." I interviewed Ron on his career/ the time he spent with Jamerson for a magazine called "Soul Up North." Last time I spoke with him he was living outside the US.

My condolences and thank you for sharing your knowledge.

 

[Marvalous]

My condolences and thank you for sharing your knowledge.

Thank you. I had promised his son that I would share that his Pop's was the man who played on the composition in questions. So, my work is done here but I will stay in the group as it's very interesting and educational for someone like me. I did not mean to post the same thing over and over and should have read more prior to posting.

 

[SpankBazz]

The track being discussed by OP:


Most people assume the bassist is Leon Sylvers III, who is Foster's older brother. Leon wrote Misdemeanor, which adds to the confusion.
Leon is a great bass player and is most well known as the in house producer for Solar Records in the late 70's/early 80's (The Whispers, Shalamar).
He played bass on most of his productions, like this one:


Fun fact: Leon played a Rickenbacker, which was an odd choice for R&B and funk.
Paul Thompson aka pdbass did an excellent primer on Leon's bass grooves in this video:


Leon was in the family group The Sylvers at the time when Misdemeanor was released.
If I were to guess, The Sylvers' label (Pride/MGM) cut a record on youngest brother Foster Sylvers to cash in on the Michael Jackson/Jackson 5 thing.
Fun fact: Edmund Sylvers was the voice for one of the Jackson brothers on The Jackson 5 cartoon.

Foster wold join The Sylvers when the group signed with Capitol in the mid-70's, which resulted in the hits Boogie Fever and Hot Line.


The Capitol stuff was unabashedly bubblegum, whereas the group's output on Pride/MGM is serious soul.


Misdemeanor peaked at #7 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1973.
In 1989, Dr. Dre sampled Misdemeanor for The D.O.C.'s classic debut single It's Funky Enough.
The success of that song rekindled interest in Misdemeanor that remains to this day.


Thanks for the information, OP
RIP Wayne Douglas