WHO'S THE GREATEST FUNK BASS PLAYER # 10 VICTOR WOOTEN

In this Series of Posts, I will Writing about the Artist's who are in My "Who's the Greatest Funk Bass Player" Poll. 

The Poll is over to the Right of the Blog, its been Running for a Few Month's, so if You haven't already Voted, Please do so!

In these Post's, I will write a few Facts, Figures, Stats and Interesting Stuff on the Artist in Question, I will also include a Playlist of their Greatest Songs.

I will Write a Post on Each Artist, One Every Other Week, This Week is the 10th and Last Artist on the List! 

ARTIST NUMBER 10..............VICTOR WOOTEN

Victor Lemonte Wooten was Born on 11th September 1965 in Mountain Home, Idaho USA.

His Parents Pete and Dorothy Wooten were in the Military!

Victor was the Youngest of 5 Brothers, they Moved to Hawaii when Victor was Very Young.

All the Brothers were Musicians, and Victors Brother Regi Learned him to Play the Bass at the age of 2 Years.

By the Age of 6, Victor was in a Band, formed by his Bothers which was Called "The Wooten Brothers" 

They Toured Night Clubs and Theatres as a Support Act, they Supported Curtis Mayfield and his Band. 

By an Early Age, Victor had learned to Play the following Instruments: Bass, Double Bass and the Cello.

Before he had Left High School, The Wooten Brothers had been the Opening Act for Various Soul, Funk and Jazz Bands, such as War, Ramsey Lewis, Stephanie Mills,  Maze, Dexter Wansel and The Temptations! 

The Wooten Brothers Released their One and Only Album in 1985!

Victor Wooten was a Founding Member of the Band, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones in 1990, they Released their Debut Album in that Same Year, it was "Self Titled"

The Band has now Released 14 Albums from 1990 to the Present Day, the Last One being  2012, VW has also been involved with " 2 Albums with "Bass Extensions" 2 albums with "Vital Tech Tones" and One with "Greg Howe"

He has also Released 9 Solo Albums, between 1996 and 2012,

but the Best Project he has been Involved with, was S.M.V Back in 2008, he Recorded  and Toured with Stanley Clarke and Marcus Miller!

Over the Last Few Years Victor Wooten has Won Many Awards for his Bass Playing including "Bass Player of the Year" by the Magazine "Bass Player" in Fact he Won this Award for 3 Years Running, No other Bass Player has Ever Achieved this, he has also won 5 Grammy Awards!

A Selection of Victor Wooten Tracks

The Full Album by SMV... THUNDER

Victor's Jam Live!



SMV PLAYING THUNDER LIVE, VICTOR WOOTEN, MARCUS MILLER AND STANLEY CLARKE

WHO'S THE GREATEST FUNK BASS PLAYER # 6 LOUIS JOHNSON

In this Series of Posts, I will Writing about the Artist's who are in My "Who's the Greatest Funk Bass Player" Poll. 

The Poll is over to the Right of the Blog, it has been Running for a Few Week's, so if You haven't already Voted, Please do so!

In these Post's, I will write a few Facts, Figures, Stats and Interesting Stuff on the Artist in Question, I will also include a Playlist of their Greatest Songs.

I will Write a Post on Each Artist, One Every Other Week! 

ARTIST NUMBER 6..............LOUIS JOHNSON 

Louis Johnson was Born on April 13th 1955 in Los Angeles, California USA.

During his School Days, He was to Form a Band with his 2 Brother's "George and Tommy" and a Cousin by the Name of Alex Weir, the band was called "Three Plus One"

In the Early 70's Louis and George Johnson were in the Backing Band's for a Two different Artists, Bobby Womack and The Supremes, they later  also both Joined Billy Preston's Band, but left in 1973.

They were both Hired in 1975 by Quincy Jones to Play on his Album "Mellow Madness" during that same Year they both Toured with Bobby Womack and Billy Preston.

During Late '75 early '76, The Brothers Decided to Form their Own Band and called themselves "The Brothers Johnson" Their Debut Album was called "Look Out For # 1" it was Produced by Quincy Jones and on the A&M Record Label.

The Album Reached Number 9 on the US Pop Chart and Number 1 on the US R&B Chart, it also Attained Platinum Status!




The Album Contained 3 Singles,           US Pop   US R&B

"Get The Funk Outta Ma Face"                          30          4
"I'll Be Good To You"                                           3           1
"Free and Single"                                                 -          26

During their Career "The Brothers Johnson" were to Release a Total of 7 Albums, between 1979 to 1988, all on the A&M Record Label.

Brothers Johnson Discography

7 Studio Albums

1 Live Album

7 Compilation Albums

18 Singles

The Brothers Split up in 1982, but Reunited Twice in 1984 and 1988, Both Brothers had a Brief Solo Careers, Louis Released 2 Albums During this Period.

Louis Johnson has Worked (Recorded or Performed) with the "Whos Who" in the Soul/Funk, Jazz and Pop/Rock Fields, far to many to Mention here, please go Here to see "Who he has Worked with" a Total of 9 Full Pages!

He also Worked on 3 of Michael Jacksons Albums "Off The Wall" Thriller and "Dangerous"

Louis Johnson Earned the Nickname of "Thunder Thumbs"

Checkout a Selection of "Brother Johnsons" Music:



Related articles

• Who's the Greatest Funk Bass Player # 4 Marcus Miller
• Who's the Greatest Funk Bass Player # 3 Larry Graham
• THE 169th MIX FOR F.S.V.B
• 1988 and MICHAEL JACKSON
• THE 171st CHRISTMAS MIX FOR F.S.V.B
• THE 173rd MIX FOR F.S.V.B

FUNKY-SOUL-VINYLS CLASSIC SOUL AND FUNK ALBUMS OF THE 60's 70's and 80's # 18

In this Series of Posts, I will writing about a Particular Classic Soul/Funk Album from the 60's 70's and 80's

The one's that stand out in my Mind, as The Best Albums ever Released. All of them, I would have purchased on Vinyl many Years ago and now have most of them on CD or Download today.

You may have Differing view's (as we all do) on these Choices, but these are my Favorites!

Number 18....GIL SCOTT-HERON....REAL EYES


The Album in this Post, is a bit Different from the Other Album Posts, when Originally Released some 32 Years ago, in 1980, it was only Available in Japan, so unless you had Plenty of Cash & got it on Import, Like me you may have Missed this Great Album by GSH.

Entitled "Real Eyes" and Released on the "Arista Record Label" it was GSH's 11th out of 15 Studio Album's Released, He also had 9 Live Album's Released and 11 Compilation's, during his Career.


The Album was Produced by GSH and Malcolm Cecil, see Personel and Track Listing Below.


I First heard the Whole Album back in 2010, when it was Released and Re-Mastered as a sort of "Best Of" series on Sony Records, their were 3 Albums in Total on 1 CD, including this Album and the Next 2 Albums on Arista Records "Moving Target" and "Reflections"

But as I have said in a Previous Post, I Saw "Black Wax" Back in 1983 on TV, and Later Purchased the DVD, Which Featured the "Amnesia Express" and the Track "Waiting For The Axe To Fall"


This was the First of Gil Scott Heron's Albums to Feature His New Band "Amnesia Express" they were with him for Many year's to come, the Band's "Bass Player" was Robert Gordon, what a Great bass player he is!



Check out the Live Version of "Waiting For the Axe to Fall" from GSH's DVD "Black Wax" with the Great Bass Playing of "Robert Gordon"


What a Great Album this is, featuring 2 of my Favorite GSH Track's of All-Time, The Great Bass Driven Track "Waiting For The Axe to Fall" and the Completely Different Style of Track "Your Daddy Loves You"


3 other Great Tracks on the Album are 1, 5 and 7.

~ TRACKLIST ~

01. The Train From Washington (4:47)02. Not Needed (3:56)03. Waiting For The Axe To Fall (4:48)04. Combinations (3:40)05. A Legend In His Own Mind (3:41)06. You Could Be My Brother (6:22)07. The Klan (4:49)08. Your Daddy Loves You (For Gia Louise) (3:16)

Album Personel

Vocals – Gil Scott-Heron

Bass – Robert Gordon

Drums – Kenny Powell

Guitar – Ed Brady

Keyboards, Synthesizer, Harmonica – Glen Turner

Percussion – Ethan Ivy

Saxophone [Tenor], Flute [All Solos] – Carl CornwellSaxophone, Flute – Vernon JamesTrumpet – Kenny Sheffield

Produced by Gil Scott-Heron, Malcolm Cecil

Recorded and mixed by Malcolm Cecil

Recorded at TONTO, Santa Monica, Cal. July 1980 and B.I.D. Studios, Washington, D.C. August 1980

GSH was Born on April 1st 1940 and Died on May 27th 2011 at the Age of 62.

Look out for Next Week's Mix, it will Feature some GSH of course!

DOWNLOAD "REAL EYES"
TO DOWNLOAD ALL OF GSH ALBUMS GO HERE!

Related articles

• FUNKY-SOUL-VINYLS CLASSIC SOUL AND FUNK ALBUMS OF THE 60's 70's and 80's # 15 (funky-soul-vinyls.blogspot.com)
• FUNKY-SOUL-VINYLS CLASSIC SOUL AND FUNK ALBUMS OF THE 60's 70's and 80's # 12 (funky-soul-vinyls.blogspot.com)
• FUNKY-SOUL-VINYLS CLASSIC SOUL AND FUNK ALBUMS OF THE 60's 70's and 80's # 16 (funky-soul-vinyls.blogspot.com)
• FUNKY-SOUL-VINYLS CLASSIC SOUL AND FUNK ALBUMS OF THE 60's 70's and 80's # 17 (funky-soul-vinyls.blogspot.com)
• FUNKY-SOUL-VINYLS CLASSIC SOUL AND FUNK ALBUMS OF THE 60's 70's and 80's # 13 (funky-soul-vinyls.blogspot.com)
• FUNKY-SOUL-VINYLS CLASSIC SOUL AND FUNK ALBUMS OF THE 60's 70's and 80's # 14 (funky-soul-vinyls.blogspot.com)