Bob Babbitt RIP

[SoCal1]

Ed Wolfrum...former Motown engineer living in Nashville contacted Ralph Terrana (moderator of SoulfulDetroit.com and former Motown employee and musician with The Sunliners who became Rare Earth and who goes back to teen clubs with Babbitt in Detroit). Ed has been close to Babbitts family throughout his illness. I've had contact with Bobs wife quite recently and this news is not at all unexpected.

 

[Lennard III.]

He has been ill ? didn't know that....

sad day

 

[Mark Wilson]

This sucks...
RIP Bob.

 

[qwench]

Sad news indeed...I too was hoping it was perhaps NOT true...RIP Mr. Babbitt and thank you for everything you gave us!!

 

[SoCal1]

He has been ill ? didn't know that....

sad day

Bob was diagnosed with a brain tumor almost two years ago. He had a relapse a couple of months ago and has been in hospice care since then.

 

[Roy Vogt]

So blessed to count Bob as a good friend-he was one of the funniest, funkiest and sweetest guys on the planet! We got the chance to do an All-Bass Orchestra performance together and it was truly magical!

 

[Will Kelly]

......

 

[emor]

 

[Highs&Lows]

rip bob babbitt, thanks for all the wonderful music.

 

[JimmyM]

Once saw Bob play live...I believe it was 1979, and he and Dick Wagner were on a club tour with Tim Curry, who played Dr. Frank N. Furter in the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Tim had a minor hit single at the time called "I Do The Rock." I didn't know this at the time, but Tim Curry was bent on proving what a serious rock and roll singer he was, and he felt that singing that "Sweet Transvestite" song was beneath him. So they did nothing from that movie, which disappointed me greatly, and Tim Curry gave me a truly evil look for daring to request it. What a pretentious goober. Yeah, that rock and roll career worked out real well, didn't it?

But the band was right on, and despite having a no-singing singer, they totally carried the show, and Bob had lots of rock and roll energy, and for me he was the show. RIP Bob.

 

[Yvon]

very sad news, one of my favorite player

 

[Biggbass]

a legend for sure who will be missed. RIP

 

[Roy Vogt]

Listen to Standing in the Shadows of Motown. I told Bob with a tone that big and a pocket that deep he never needed a 5 string! He was so great! I will miss my friend....

 

[millsbass5]

This is a sad, sad day. Why? First off, I figured I'd see it on CNN every 1/2 hour, or so. That's the real sad part. With all that he's done in his career, and they can't put it on the news? He definitely deserves more respect and recognition than that.

 

[bass12]

It's nice to know that he gained some relatively widespread recognition for his work while he was still alive.

 

[bass12]

With all that he's done in his career, and they can't put it on the news?

Well, maybe if he'd been seen stepping out in the same dress as Katie Holmes...

 

[rtslinger]

RIP Bob thanks for showing us all how to lay down the groove.

 

[nussy the whale]

I was just watching videos of him playing with the rest of the Funk Brothers from the "Standing In The Shadows" documentary. RIP, Bob, you will be missed but your contributions to music will live forever.

 

[fenderhutz]

Ok. So where is this info from. I can't find anything. *Citation needed.

 

[boynamedsuse]

I am sorry to learn this. I was thinking about him yesterday. Wow. We've lost so many people lately. May he rest in peace.