Reggie McBride (Stevie Wonder, Tommy Bolin)

Aretha Franklin wanted him in her band when he was 14 years old. At 16 he was on the road with The Dramatics and James Brown. And at 19, Reggie McBride became a member of Stevie Wonder’s ensemble and played on the multiple Grammy Award winning classic Fulfillingness’ First Finale (1974).

A Detroit native, McBride absorbed the music of his hometown Motown and brought his unique combination of finger playing and slap technique to seminal sides by Rare Earth, Ry Cooder, Keb Mo, Funkadelic, Herbie Hancock, Phoebe Snow, Van Morrison, Minnie Riperton, David Lindley, Rod Stewart, BB King, Elton John (21 at 33, The Fox), and Rick Springfield, among many others.

On Tommy Bolin’s Private Eyes (1976) Reggie dispatched with any semblance of rock phrasing and plied gritty funk, R&B, and reggae lines which the late guitarist soared over.

Reggie’s 2005 solo album Element is a smooth jazz diamond in the rough.

Reggie McBride Sound & Vision…

Stevie Wonder:

“You Haven’t Done Nothing” https://youtu.be/0SEGHvLElxc

“Smile Please” https://youtu.be/TZGCP0W6DCg

“Higher Ground” Live on Beat Club https://youtu.be/XV1DK9tSHio

Tommy Bolin:

“Post Toastee” https://youtu.be/A7FOTBdbPN8

“Bustin’ Out for Rosie” https://youtu.be/9ua7_JS_F8I

“Sweet Burgundy” https://youtu.be/qako94KrCV0

Rare Earth:

Reggie bass solo https://youtu.be/WG260dL1NJM