Dennis Belfield (Rufus, Animotion, Rick Springfield)

 

A composer, electric / upright player, session ace, band member, collaborator, vocalist, and producer – he forged the grooves to two seminal ‘70s anthems* an 80s anthem or two ** and then some!

 

Assuming the Rufus bass chair from Willie Weeks – Dennis anchored two of the band’s more successful slabs before taking over for Three Dog Night bassist Jack Ryland when said band was on their last (canine) legs.

 

That’d Dennis in Aqaunet mode with Animotion for their hit “Obsession” slappin’ ‘n’ poppin’ as was the way we did things back in the Regan years.

 

A first call session player with an astounding list of record credits, Belfield’s canon spans Flora Purim, Shaun Cassidy, Booker T. Jones, Rita Coolidge, Art Garfunkel, Neil Young, Ringo Starr, Rick Springfield, Juice Newton, Barry Manilow, Tom Jones, Belinda Carlisle, Roy Orbison, Darlene Love, The Monkees, Lou Rawls, Curtis Mayfield, Michael Franks, Kris Kristofferson, Dolly Parton, David Sanborn, Harvey Mason, Carl Carlton, and Debbie Boone to cite a ridiculously select few.    

 

Dennis Belfield Sound & Vision…

 

*Rufus: “Tell Me Something Good” https://youtu.be/vuDCi5neNMM

 

**Animotion “Obsession” https://youtu.be/hIs5StN8J-0?si=_C1hVhyjyMVFodIY

 

**Rick Springfield “Don’t Talk to Strangers” https://youtu.be/cp42V938eBA?si=lf1P1ua24Hrj0CsC

 

Floria Purim “Walking Away” https://youtu.be/1ayGxJs7EKo?si=cWJwE0LPBIn8ph4I

 

*Carl Carlton: “Everlasting Love” https://youtu.be/SqT1y5Qi6l0?si=0A8JqaxMyTAmTenR