Tommy Cogbill (Elvis Presley, Dusty Springfield)
Courtesy of Elvis The Music Com – Elvis with Tommy Cogbill and Tommy’s Fender bass
A master counter-melodic / pocket player and certifiable giant of the instrument – and unquestionably deserving of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recognition – the late Thomas Clark Cogbill was among the go-to Nashville / “Memphis Boys” session cats who established the electric bass in country music, rock, soul, pop, rhythm and blues, and permutations thereof.
A former guitarist, Tommy’s weapon of choice was a Fender Precision and flats, tweaking the treble tone just enough to rise through the mix. Where to begin with Cogbill’s canon?
Dusty Springfield (“Son of a Preacher Man”), Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett (“Funky Broadway”), Elvis, Neil Diamond (“Sweet Caroline”), King Curtis (“Memphis Soul Stew”), Dolly Parton, Herbie Mann, Dobie Gray, and Kris Kristofferson, to cite a select few…
Tommy Cogbill Sound & Vision…
Tommy with Elvis on Take 9 of “Kentucky Rain” https://youtu.be/ElumTJWwXWA
Dusty Springfield “Son of a Preacher Man” https://youtu.be/oAZLgsDRUv4
Wilson Pickett “Funky Broadway” https://youtu.be/QICXaxkBJMk
King Curtis “Memphis Soul Stew” https://youtu.be/U5swo4ibjYk