To read part one of this post, please click here!
I’ve already started covering the top 10 greatest bass players of all time, a topic that will forever cause controversy amongst music lovers, and now I’m going to end the list with the remaining 5. Again, these are in no particular order and I know that people will disagree with me on some, if not all, of the artists that I’ve chosen. But that’s ok, opinions are allowed. There is no specific set of qualifications for what makes an artist great, just so long as what they create evokes something in you.
-
- Marcus Miller (Getty Images)
-
- Larry Graham (Getty Images)
-
- Paul McCartney (Getty Images)
-
- James Jamerson (Getty Images)
-
- Charles Mingus (Getty Images)
6. Marcus Miller. While most people will know Marcus Miller from his impressive solo career, he is also a virtuoso behind the scenes and has played with a number of famous musicians such as Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and Luther Vandross, amongst others. He is also an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, simply adding to his prowess.
7. Larry Graham. Have you heard of Sly and the Family Stone? Larry Graham was the bassist for the band as well as the founder and frontman of Graham Central Station. He is also credited as the inventor of the slapping technique, which was a radical shift in the way bass was played and allowed for more notes to be used.
8. Paul McCartney. Everyone knows Paul McCartney and rightly so — the man was instrumental in one of the greatest bands to ever exist, the Beatles. Along with his successful solo career, he helped prove that bassists were vital to their bands and could be accomplished singers and songwriters.
9. James Jamerson. This is the man who was playing bass for almost all of the Motown hits in the 60’s and 70’s, even though he was uncredited. Jamerson is now known as one of the most influential bass players in modern history — he was finally inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000, 17 years after he died.
10. Charles Mingus. Aside from have a great last name, Charles Mingus was an influential double bass player and bandleader. He created genre-breaking jazz and promoted collective improvisation amongst his bandmembers. Along with his skill with the bass and with composing, he is known for having a vicious temper.
These bass players are just a sample of some of the musicians that could be considered the greatest bass players of all time. However these are just 10 out of hundreds of amazing players out there, all of whom deserve recognition for their talents.