James Jamerson

Bassist

James Jamerson was born in Charleston, South Carolina, United States on January 29th, 1936 and is the Bassist. At the age of 47, James Jamerson biography, profession, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, measurements, education, career, dating/affair, family, news updates, and networth are available.

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Date of Birth
January 29, 1936
Nationality
United States
Place of Birth
Charleston, South Carolina, United States
Death Date
Aug 2, 1983 (age 47)
Zodiac Sign
Aquarius
Profession
Bassist, Musician
James Jamerson Height, Weight, Eye Color and Hair Color

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James Jamerson Religion, Education, and Hobbies
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James Jamerson Spouse(s), Children, Affair, Parents, and Family
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James Jamerson Life

James Lee Jamerson (January 29, 1936 – August 2, 1983) was an American bass player.

He was the uncredited bassist on the majority of Motown Records' hits in the 1960s and early 1970s (Motown did not give credit to session musicians on their debuts until 1971), and today is known as one of the most influential bassists in modern music history.

In 2000, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He appeared on twenty-three Billboard Hot 100 number one hits as a session performer as well as fifty-six R&B number one hits. Jamerson ranked as the nation's best bass guitarist in 2017 in its special issue "The 100 Greatest Bass Players."

Jamerson came third in the "20 Most Underrated Bass Guitarists" series in Paste magazine in 2011.

Early life

He was born on Edisto Island, South Carolina, and Elizabeth Bacon, James Jamerson Sr. and Elizabeth Bacon. He was raised in part by his grandmother, who played piano, and his aunt, who performed in the church choir. He was a good piano player and appeared in public as a youth. He appeared on trombone for a brief period. He was a reserved person and passionate about music as a youth. On the radio, he listened to gospel, blues, and jazz.

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Personal life and death

Right after graduating from high school, Jamerson married Annie Wells. They had four children. James Jamerson Jr., (1957-1966), was a session bassist and a member of the disco band Chanson. Joey and Derek's two sons, as well as a daughter Dorene (Penny).

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Jamerson, who had been plagued by alcoholism for many years, died of complications in Los Angeles from cirrhosis of the liver, heart failure, and pneumonia on August 2, 1983. He is laid to rest in Detroit's historic Woodlawn Cemetery.

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James Jamerson Career

Post-Motown career

Shortly after Motown moved their headquarters to Los Angeles, California in 1972, Jamerson moved there himself and found occasional studio work, but his relationship with Motown officially ended in 1973. He went on to perform on such 1970s hits as "Neither One of Us" by Gladys Knight & The Pips (1973), "Boogie Down" (Eddie Kendricks, 1974), "Boogie Fever" (The Sylvers, 1976), "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)" (Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr., 1976), and "Heaven Must Have Sent You" (Bonnie Pointer, 1979). He also played on recordings by Robert Palmer (Pressure Drop, 1975), Dennis Coffey (Instant Coffey, 1974), Wah Wah Watson (Elementary, 1976), Rhythm Heritage (1976), Al Wilson (1977), Dennis Wilson (Pacific Ocean Blue, 1977), Eloise Laws (1977), Smokey Robinson (1978), Ben E. King (1978), Hubert Laws (1979), Tavares (1980), Joe Sample/David T. Walker (Swing Street Cafe, 1981), and Bloodstone (1982). However, in Los Angeles Jamerson was not working with a steady group of musicians, and he was not as free to improvise. He felt out of place and over time his increased dependence on alcohol affected his work. As other musicians went on to use high-tech amplifiers, round-wound strings, and simpler, more repetitive bass lines incorporating new techniques like slapping, Jamerson's style fell out of favor with local producers as he was reluctant to try new things. By the 1980s he was unable to get any serious gigs working as a session musician.(pp70–73)

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