Unsung Singing Bassists

[SlowpokeJoe]

We all know the go-to Singing Bassists, your Lemmys and Geddys and Maccas and Stings, but how about some of the lesser known bassists who made a material impact with their vocals?

I'll start with Michael Anthony: His backing vocals were a key part of the early Van Halen sound and his singing is highly underrated.

 

[Bassamatic]

Don't forget Jack Bruce - not sure category he falls in. It still amazes me how he was able to sing "Born Under a Bad Sign" while playing the disconnected bass line. I have a hard enough time just playing it.

 

[SlowpokeJoe]

Session legend Nathan East turns out to be a really good singer also:

 

[BassNugget]

Zack Merrick of All Time Low. His harmonies help define their sound. He is arguably as good a singer as lead singer Alex Gaskarth.

One of my favorite bands.

 

[Big Fat O]

Kip Winger. The tunes aren’t that great but he has a good voice and Reb Beach was in the band.

 

[FrenchBassQC]

MonoNeon...

 

[Marihino]

Mariusz Duda of Riverside

 

[JimK]

George Hawkins...Kenny Loggins '80s band. Fantastic backing vocals with syncopated bass.

Pablo Cruise has/had at least 3 very capable singing bassists-
Bud Cockrell
Bruce Day
Larry Antonino AKA Scott "Wolfman" Pell from That Thing You Do!

 

[bass12]

Mark King plays some pretty involved lines while singing. Others that come to mind:

- Larry Graham
- Deon Estus
- Manou Gallo
- Richard Bona
- Marco Mendoza

 

[roccobass]

Benjamin Orr of The Cars

 

[5StringBlues]

Squire

 

[Wood and Wire]

Suzi Quatro should have been mentioned in post #1.

 

[CallMeAl]

Squire

S-Q-U… oh wait, never mind.

 

[5StringBlues]

squire and quatro in the same thread? oooookay

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

Dio started out playing bass.

/thread

 

[CallMeAl]

I always liked Toby Leaman of Dr Dog

 

[badinage]

John Cowan has a decent set of pipes.

 

[5StringBlues]

Will Lee

 

[Green Knight]

REM wouldn’t have sounded the same without Mike Mills singing behind Stipe.

 

[Smoove-Groove]

Peter Cetera!