By Robert Jenkins

The music of Barry Manilow has made a massive impact on contemporary pop music. However, Barry’s records were often unfairly criticized in their time for their high commercial production values, love themes, and overall MOR appeal. Yet Barry Manilow hit the scene like an asteroid and redefined the genre.  His early hits, including “Mandy,” “Copacabana,” “I Write the Songs,” and “Even Now”, to cite a few, have endured as pop standards.

Note that Manilow did not compose many of his biggest hits. Using outside writers, as well as co-writing, Barry’s arrangements on these songs (and others) were the key ingredient that have stood the test of time.

Case in point, in the mid-70s Barry took a Bruce Johnstone composition “I Write the Songs” – which failed to chart for Captain & Tennille and David Cassidy – and he nailed a #1 hit on the Billboard charts and Grammy Award for Song of the Year. Everything about the Manilow version shines, from his instrumentation and orchestration, arranging, to his vocal phrasing. He simply took the bare elements of the song, like so many others, and sent it over the top. His work was nothing short of genius.

Ditto rocker Ian Hunter, who revealed to KYBP founder Tom Semioli that he was in awe of Barry’s rendition of his song “Ships” – which became yet another huge hit – #9 in 1980 – thanks to Manilow’s magic touch.

Akin to many of the greats, Barry Manilow worked with the best players. And that list includes bassist Steven Donaghey.

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Steven was deeply influenced by the Kingston Trio. He started playing guitar at an early age, working in several midwestern bands. In 1973 Steve switched to bass and merely a year and a half later, he got a call to do a four-week tour with an up and coming artist named Barry Manilow.

That short trek turned into four years plus of steady studio and touring work – making him the primary bassist for Manilow’s City Rhythm Band.

Manilow often employed studio players on his sessions as well, and while the credits for the individual players are sketchy – names were not always documented in liner notes or cover art – we know
that Donaghey anchored Trying To Get The Feeling, This One’s
For You, and Barry Manilow Live. Steven’s work on those two
aforementioned studio albums puts him on at least nine of Manilow’s biggest hits during the 1970s!

One of my favorite Donaghey bass passages is the studio version of “Weekend In New England” from This One’s For You.

To me, it is a perfect example of how a musician plays to the song and how a bass player does their job well. The line has a wonderful sense of motion without being too busy in a ballad setting. Steven structures this line to perfectly support the melody, harmony, and rhythm. Conversely, his live bass line on “Beautiful Music (Part III)” from the Barry Manilow Live album simply rips; he plays disco style octaves up and down the entire length of the fretboard, ending with a pentatonic lick that puts a perfect showcase flourish at the end of the entire set.

After leaving the City Rhythm Band – details on Steven Donaghey’s career are unclear. It is known that he stayed in Brooklyn, continuing to play in bands around the scene, sitting in as a call player, and working with young, up-and-coming bands. He worked with members of the Kingston Trio at their fantasy camps in Arizona and continued to teach and inspire musicians. Steven also performed regularly with John Stewart of the Kingston Trio. In his later years he played in an ensemble named Stretch Cunningham, leaving a scant bit of video evidence of his playing on YouTube.

Steven Donaghey passed away on 11 December 2015, leaving behind a legacy of bass playing. His work worthy of study, and undoubtedly contributed to shaping of pop music in the 1970’s. In all my research I found people consistently calling him a great friend, great bass player, and great cat lover. Steven Donaghey is a bass player you should know.

And if anyone in the KYBP community or beyond has any other information on the career of Steven Donaghey please share it with us. 

Dig Steve and Barry:

“Weekend In New England”  https://youtu.be/IqUTWVuUC8E 

Beautiful Music (Part III)- Live https://youtu.be/d8mi6QyJrCc

By Joe Gagliardo

After moving from the Humboldt Park neighborhood in Chicago – yes, the very same hometown of rock legend Patti Smith – to the suburb of Northlake, Bill made some new friends who were musicians and he started playing bass on a guitar with the B and E strings removed!

Shortly thereafter, Bill purchased a Hofner Beatle bass and was off on his journey as a player.  First with a prog rock band entitled Mother Country, then he moved on to a Montreal based show band named Fancy Colors. Bill tells of having to fly to Montreal for the audition and is grateful he got the gig, because he only had enough money for a one-way ticket.

Ahhhhhhh to be young and confident!!!!! 

Returning to Chicago, his career kicked into high gear when his band Skylady, which he founded and also served as a songwriter – morphed into Tantrum.

There was nothing like them! Picture walking into a club in the late 70’s, and witnessing the visual impact of three energetic and strong female singers; Pam Bradley, Sandy Caulfield and Barb Erber, backed by a hard-rocking band, Bill, Phil Balsano (keyboards), Ray Sapko (guitar) and Vern Wennerstrom (drums).

The band performed at major venues including the Arie Crown Theatre, Chicago Amphitheatre, Aragon Ballroom, Park West, ChicagoFest and toured extensively across the United States.

A concert and radio favorite, Tantrum produced three albums on the Ovation label: Tantrum, Rather Be Rockin’, and Breaking Away.

Following Tantrum, Bill joined Alan Hewitt & 88; an ensemble which played original pop music composed Hewitt – who later worked with the Moody Blues as their touring keyboardist – and toured throughout the Midwest and made two appearances on the nationally syndicated, highly rated TV show, Star Search, during its premier season.

From 1988-1993 Bill toured with Survivor throughout the United States and parts of Europe, with numerous appearances on German television. He toured with both Dave Bickler, the original singer of Survivor, as
well as Jimi Jamison. Bill appears on the band’s Too Hot to Sleep and Greatest Hits LPs.

Bill and Davie Bickler also had a band, Radio City, which included former Trillion and Jinx guitar player Frank Barbalace.

In addition to live performances, Bill was busy playing numerous sessions, including with renowned guitarist Jennifer Batten – noted for her work with Michael Jackson and Jeff Bec,), Marc Scherer on his releases Battle Zone, White Cross, and High Gear; Kelly Keagy (Night Ranger) I’m Alive and Time Passes; Scott May (Ides of March)  Outside the Inside; Harry Nilsson’s Lost & Found;  and Jim Peterik (Survivor, Ides of March) Pride of Lions and World Stage discs.

As a songwriter, Bill has co-written several songs, often with Jim Peterik for various projects, including “Under the Spell” recorded by the Doobie Brothers. He co-wrote much of the music with Joe Vana for his Mecca 3 album, which was recorded in Nashville with David Hungate (Toto).  He currently writes the majority of Classical Blast’s original music.

Bill’s songwriting has given him a different perspective on his bass lines, prompting him to listen more intently to all the players, to provide support, but also to supply melodic fills in open spaces to keep the song moving forward.  Bill’s bass influences include Jack Bruce, Geddy Lee, Chris Squire, and Jaco Pastorius.

Currently Bill’s go-to basses include: a ’72 four string Fender Jazz bass, a ’91five string Fender Jazz bass, and a five string Sire Marcus Miller Bass.  He runs his bass through a Hartke 1×15 Combo Amp with a Hartke 2×10 extension cabinet.

These days, you can catch Bill with R-Gang, a band that specializes in Motown/Soul/R&B music, and which he has been co-leading since 1988.

Bill is also with Classical Blast, a band that features mashups of famed classical pieces with contemporary rock music, along with originals.  The band has released three albums, two of which can be found on the Toucan Cove label (Seattle), and have received regional acclaim and airplay.

His concert shows include Bach to Rock: A Musical Metamorphosis, Dark Side of the Yule, a holiday concert show; and Classical Blast in Kilts, a Celtic rock revue.

They’ve performed an instrumental rock version of the National Anthem at Wrigley Field three times and opened for numerous national acts, including Joan Jett, Michael McDonald, The Orchestra/ELO, among others.

While Bill has many accomplishments, he is a gracious performer, and plays guitar and performs weekly for cancer patients, caregivers, and families as part of the Caring Arts Program.  The Caring Arts
Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing emotional
support to Chicago-area cancer patients and their families.  Its mission is to facilitate and encourage expression and healing through music, fine art, journaling, photography and other creative disciplines.

Learn more about Caring Arts Foundation at: http://www.caringarts.com/

Check out these tracks and videos from Bill’s remarkable career:

Tantrum (album track montage) https://youtu.be/U8ExN1zBiKc

Tantrum live at Haymaker’s Reunion (“Rock n Roll Waltz”) 2012 https://youtu.be/N8XwwcdUuBw

R-Gang on WGN-TV, 2010 https://youtu.be/-0bB3rIZnNc

Survivor “Didn’t Know it was Love” (music video, 1988), From Too Hot to Sleep https://youtu.be/AJJSej2ru0c

Survivor “Eye of the Tiger” on German TV, 1993 https://youtu.be/NsbXE8A9Rtg

Classical Blast Live Stream at Arcada Theater (“Let’s Pretend” song written by Bill Syniar & Barbara Weigand), March 2020 https://youtu.be/vniZjUYHjL8

Bill performing at Children’s Hospital for Caring Arts (2015) https://youtu.be/pTaV08WE_Yg

By Thomas Semioli

John McKenzie, bass player; Seal, The Pretenders, The Eurythmics, Dr. John, Everything But The Girl, James Ingram, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Damien Rice Lionel Richie, Tina Turner, Alison Moyet, Renato Zero, Karl Jenkins, Bond, Moya Brennan, Eternal, Shakira, Graham Lyle, Charles Aznavour, Andrea Corr, Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Jim Diamond, Tom Scott, Paul Brady, Johnny Mathis, Wham, Andy Newmark, Blair Cunningham Leon Ware, Mudbone, The Breakfast Band, Kokomo,  Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Maksim Wild, Sinead O’Connor, Reel People Steve Hillage, Man, Leo Sayer, Eric Burdon, Annette Peacock, Davy Spillane, Mirage, Global Village Trucking Company, Albert Lee, Tim Finn….to cite a select few.

A remarkably prolific genre-traversing, versatile UK session ace, sideman, collaborator, composer, bandmember, and educator, among other endeavors: John Michael McKenzie’s resume of credits was astounding.

A supportive soulful player who worked the trad four, fretless, and extended range…dig John with…

Everything But The Girl “Five Fathoms” https://youtu.be/x67EEIBuwIw

The Pretenders “Let’s Make a Pact” https://youtu.be/Lteg_r9alSU

Seal “ Future Love Paradise” https://youtu.be/cj21h504wKU

Bond Live at the Royal Albert Hall https://youtu.be/6OLEnJj5Y80

Steve Hillage “Live at Canterbury” https://youtu.be/MExLFl2g688

“John McKenzie Rocks That Bass” https://vimeo.com/196673711

By Joe Gagliardo

To understand Chris Scruggs’ career, it is important to understand country and pop music history!

Chris’ mom, Gail Davies, is an accomplished singer / songwriter and was the first female record producer in the history of country music.  She duetted with Roger Miller, Ralph Stanley, and her bass players on record included such studio legends as Leland Sklar and Willie Weeks.

Chris’ maternal grandfather is the late country singer Tex Dickerson, and his paternal grandfather is bluegrass banjo legend, Earl Scruggs.  Simply put, Chris grew up surrounded by music, and great singers and players!

After seeing A Hard Day’s Night at age eleven, Chris decided that wanted to play guitar and two years later, he added bass.  His first instrument was an Aria Pro Cardinal Series bass.  After it was stolen, Chris moved to a 70’s Fender Precision bass.  Between the ages of fifteen and seventeen, he played bass in a rock and roll and rockabilly bands.

When he was seventeen, recording artist Rosie Flores, whose music combines, rockabilly, country, honky-tonk, and western swing sought an upright player – and Chris fit the bill. He borrowed a Kay from a friend and hit the road for the next eighteen months with Rosie.

Upon his return home, Chris was invited to play bass for the band BR45-49 -named after the phone number of a used car dealer in the TV series Hee Haw! However when singer/guitarist Gary Bennett left the band, Chris took over his duties, and the band brought in another bass player. Chris played with BR5-49 until early 2005.  During that time, he wrote and performed the title track of the band’s release, Tangled in the Pines.

In 2005, Chris left BR5-49 to pursue a solo career and to support other artists as well.  Since then, he has forged a busy career playing live and doing session work in Nashville. His work has included playing guitar and steel guitar with Mike Nesmith and Suzy Boguss; upright bass with Chicago legend Robbie Fulks; and bass guitar with She & Him.

Chris released his first solo album, entitled Anthem, in 2009.  He produced the album and composed eleven of its twelve track; Ron Davies, Scruggs’ uncle who best known for having written the rock standard  “It Ain’t Easy” recorded by David Bowie, Three Dog Night, and Long John Baldry, among others, wrote the remaining song.

At the end of 2014, Marty Stuart’s bassist Paul Martin decided to leave Marty’s Fabulous Superlatives. When Chris was asked to recommend a replacement, he stepped in and took the gig himself – and he continues in that roll now in 2020.

Upright influences: Chris has been impacted by Bob Moore (played on Owen Bradley sessions, including Patsy Cline, Elvis and Roy Orbison); Junior Huskey (Grand Ole Opry and session bassist); and Joe Zinkan, a melodic slap upright player.  Another influence is Nashville upright bassist of the 1940s and 1950s, Ernie Newton, who brought an informed sense of jazz elegance and creativity to many of Nashville’s classic bass lines.  These bassists helped create the classic Nashville sound from the 50’s-70’s.  Chris’ knowledge of the Nashville bassists and their playing styles runs very deep.

Electric bass influences:  Lee Sklar and Willie Weeks, who played on Gail Davies’ records; David Briggs and his Memphis soul sound; and melodic players, including Paul McCartney, Joe Osborne and Carol Kaye (both pick players from the Wrecking Crew), Paul Simonon (The Clash), and Graham Maby (Joe Jackson Band).

Chris’ playing style is varied: fingers, thumb and pick, depending on the needs of the song.  He likes thinking of the bass as a range of tones, and how those tones can move the melody, including the vocals, without taking away from what the other instruments are playing.  In his playing, he has taken stock of the style of some of his influences.  For example, Junior Huskey playing a tag at the end of a song, playing the 5th under the chord, rather than the root, or Bill Black playing the 3rd rather than the root on the downbeat of “Good Rockin’ Tonight.”

Chris’ main electric basses are a 1964 Lake Placid Blue Fender Precision Bass, and a late 60’s Telecaster Bass, both strung with LaBella Deep Pocket flatwound strings.  On occasion Chris uses a 60’s Hofner violin bass, strung with Pyramid flatwound strings.  He has two Kay uprights, with gut strings.  The D & G strings are gut strings, and the E and A strings are metal wrapped gut strings.  His amplifier is a Fender Bassman 100-T on top of a 1 x 15 Fender Bassman cabinet, and he uses a Radial Tonebone, as a DI.

You can catch Chris playing bass live with Marty Stuart and the Fabulous Superlatives, or playing acoustic guitar and singing with his own band, Chris Scruggs and the Stone Fox Five.

Check out Chris’ playing on the tracks below, and his explanation of his basslines on those songs:

“Time Don’t Wait” https://youtu.be/IS7xPPcR4Bc

For the video of Marty Stuart’s “Time Don’t Wait,” we decided to go and film with the First Nation people’s on Pine Ridge Indian reservation. This is a special and sacred place for Marty. He was officially adopted into the tribe and he and his wife (Country Music Hall of Fame member Connie Smith) were married there. On this song, I play high on the fretboard, anchoring the bassline’s downbeat with an open A string and playing an angular, pulsing run on the 12th and 14th frets. The 1960s style “busy bass” of Paul McCartney and Chris Hillman gave me inspiration for this part.

“John Henry” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4Wl1RTTF7c

Here’s me playing the old-time tune “John Henry” with Marty Stuart. My stylistic starting point for this piece lies with Joe Zinkan, the great Nashville session bassist of yesteryear who was often featured playing instrumentals on the Grand Ole Opey with his upright bass in the percussive “slap” style. Some melodies work well for playing tunes on “slap” bass, some do not! Even while showcase pieces like this are occasional fun, it’s always important to remember that the role of the bass is to support all the other players on stage, be they in the rhythm section or on the “front line.” 

“Way Out West” https://youtu.be/CULSrvkzBfc

For the title track of Marty’s most recent release “Way Out West,” I used a pick and took my navigational lead from west coast bassists like Carol Kaye and Joe Osborne, muting my heavy flatwound strings with foam and playing occasional counterpart lines to the song’s chord changes. Sometimes it’s fun to let the guitars anchor the changes while the bass steps out for a change.

By Thomas Semioli

“When I met Chuck [Rainey] I felt there really was no need for me to be bringing my bass guitar to the studio anymore…” Walter Becker (Steely Dan Reelin’ In the Years by Brian Sweet)

Just three records into their incomparable career, Donald Fagan and Walter Becker opted for studio cats even though Becker, who was also a stellar guitarist, was an exemplary bass player!     

A guitar student of Randy California, a master composer/lyricist, an accomplished producer (Rickie Lee Jones, Donald Fagan) among others, Becker deftly incorporated his deep knowledge (and passion) for rhythm and blues and jazz into his bass passages.  A consummate song player, Becker’s pocket and rhythmic variations were subtle yet powerful. No filler, no wasted notes and his tone was a perfect meld of bottom and edge.

On the original Steely Dan vinyl slabs and the latter-day digital remasters, Becker (unfortunately) is down in the mix. Given Steely’s penchant to highlight the songs, biting libretto, and the soloists, that is somewhat understandable.

Chuck Rainey cut the most bass tracks from ’75 until Dan’s initial demise in 1980.

When Dan reconvened in the mid-90s, Tom Barney was their primary bassist in the studio, and held the anchored the ensemble on their extensive touring schedule which commences to this day after Walter’s passing in 2017.

Becker returned to the instrument on occasion for various Steely cuts and for his fine solo efforts 11 Tracks of Whack (1994) and Circus Money (2008). On their final effort Everything Must Go (2003) the bass chair came full circle as Walter rendered all the tracks on his Sadowsky. On that particular platter, Becker can be heard front and center.

Any major dude will tell you that Walter was a top shelf player – I highly advise readers to don the headphones for those early Steely sides and dig Becker’s bass artistry.

Dig Walter’s double stops on “King of the World” https://youtu.be/Us0EsdiLBJY

Dig Walter’s grace notes and fills on “Your Gold Teeth” https://youtu.be/qxk-yVT6pfE

Dig Walter’s upright phrasing on “Razor Boy” https://youtu.be/Y3Krg8Nc69Y

Dig Walter working his soul chops on:

“My Old School” https://youtu.be/rFnwczuvb74

“Changing of the Guard” https://youtu.be/roLIYw8Ov_I

“Pearl of the Quarter” https://youtu.be/roLIYw8Ov_I

What about a kiss for your … “Cousin Dupree” https://youtu.be/80b4Y_d8W8o

“Things I Miss The Most” https://youtu.be/80b4Y_d8W8o

 

By Joe Gagliardo

Gordon Patriarca was born into a family that loved music – dad was a jazz / blues buff and mom played piano and show tunes.

 

Then along came the transistor radio! Gordon and his brother were inseparable from these new portable devices as the Top 40 sounds of WLS and WCFL in Chicago became the soundtrack of their childhood.

 

When Gordon was in 8th grade, a friend from Ireland with older brothers introduced him to Rory Gallagher and Taste, Jethro Tull, John Mayall, Cream, Led Zeppelin, and much of the great British blues rock of the era. By the time he entered high school, Gordon was in love with the music, however had yet to pick up a bass.  That was about to change soon…

 

His younger brother was excelling with guitar lessons, and Gordon – fired up by Jack Bruce’s incendiary musicianship – decided that playing bass would be “cool.”  A neighbor kid owned a Montgomery Ward’s bass and amp that he loaned to Gordon, and he and his brother would spend hours playing 12-bar blues progressions.

 

Eventually Gordon got bass, a cherry red Epiphone Newport, and joined a band with his brother while taking lessons from a pro – Paul Zibits.  Gordon’s high school graduation gift was ’76 Fender Jazz bass.

 

Circa 1979-80, Gordon honed his craft with Trouts, which was in the Elvis Costello / Squeeze / Joe Jackson bag: melodic and hooky.

 

At this point, Bruce Thomas (Elvis Costello & The Attractions) became a huge influence. Regulars on the local circuit, Trouts lasted for three years.

 

Following Trouts, Gordon took on a rockabilly gig with Stevie Starlite’s band, followed by a blues-rock-fusion gig with Don Griffin and the Griff Band. Gordon then spent five years with The Remainders, a band that started out as a Cajun / Zydeco / New Orleans style band which morphed into an Americana / roots-rock/ pop band which released a cassette and CD.

 

After his tenure in The Remainders, Gordon was back on the local club circuit, and busy in the studio appearing on over forty releases.  His many studio credits include albums with Yardsale and Word Bongo, Joe Pug, Kelley McCrae and Sage Francis, also recording sessions at Abbey Road Studio with Icos. Gordon also anchored European tours and recorded with Jan James.

 

Over a forty-year span, Gordon has played thousands of gigs, including shows with Survivor, Spirit, Matt “Guitar” Murphy, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Sugar Blue, and Robbie Fulks, among others.

 

Gordon’s go-to bass for twenty years was an Ampeg AEB-1 Scroll bass that he purchased for $90.00 in 1984, and consequently modified.

 

These days he has a penchant for Squire Precision and Tele basses which he “hot rods” by, among other things, changing the pick ups and bridges.  He also uses a custom SG Bass, and a Fender Jazz bass with DiMarzio pickups and flat wound strings. His bass rig is a Yamaha PB-1 Pre amp, run through a Peavey IPR Power Amp, into either an Eden 2×12, Sunn 1×18, Mesa 1×15, or some combination thereof.

 

Gordon’s playing philosophy is to focus on the groove with melodic flourishes, as well as to be intimately familiar with the style of music he is playing, and how to play it, whether it is rock, pop, country, blues, or reggae.

 

In addition to Jack Bruce and Bruce Thomas, his early bass influences include James Jamerson, Phil Lynott, Tony Stevens (Savoy Brown and Foghat), and Greg Ridley (Humble Pie).  Later on Gordon drew inspiration from Jaco Pastorius, Colin Moulding, and Rocco Prestia.

 

In addition to being the Musical Director for The School of Rock, he is involved in multiple projects: Simply Elton, Simply Billy(Joel), Too Bad Company, Heroes (Bowie), Yacht Rock with the Yacht Rockettes, Rick Lindy and Dave Specter.

 

 

Gordon Patriarca Sound & Vision …

 

Gordo’s Gigs Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNPW-Nl7KKAP3QkN3zt07Gh5etV39Hv5g

Music I have appeared on as a bassist from 1980 to the present. Some solo bass weirdness included here too. Tracks include recordings as a band member and as a studio musician. Some live stuff too.

 

The Remainders “Two For The Blues” https://youtu.be/b-_GxL2a_Lc

 

Word Bongo “Witnesses” https://youtu.be/Csj9ftRiAp8

 

Yardsale “How Good It Feels” https://youtu.be/-R1Ysrormpg

 

Icos “Only You and I” https://youtu.be/QNGI7aa1vpA

 

 

By Joe Gagliardo

He anchored one of the most accomplished, versatile, and influential ensembles in the history of rock and roll. Do you believe in magic?

Steve Boone was raised in household brimming with the sounds of music – most notably the classical works of Liszt and Chopin, along with Broadway musicals such as Annie Get Your Gun, and South Pacific.

Mesmerized by Buddy Holly’s singing style, and his unique rhythmic disposition, Steve decided to be a musician upon hearing Lubbock Texas legend’s seminal classic “Peggy Sue” on the radio.

Steve was also influenced by his guitarist brother Skip, six years his senior. Skip made it as far as recording a few demos at RCA with Chet Atkins and cutting an LP with the band Auto Salvage.  Consequently, Skip had significant impact on Steve’s music career.

At sixteen while recovering from a serious auto accident, Steve began to play an acoustic guitar which his mom purchased for him – a Gibson LGO. Skip taught him a few chords, and Steve began playing along with the songs he was hearing on the faint, late night signal of WKBW radio in Buffalo, New York.

When Steve was a high school senior – Skip was working in a popular Westhampton, New York band – The Kingsmen. One of front men was drummer / singer Joe Butler – who also would play a major role in Steve’s career.

At Skip’s invitation, sometime in October 1962, Steve joined The Kingsmen on acoustic guitar for a few impromptu numbers and was invited become a full-fledged group member – which prompted Boone to get his hands on a 1957 Les Paul Goldtop.

Within weeks after joining, The Kingsmen’s bassist announced he was returning to Louisiana – and he suggested Steve as his replacement.  After a few quick lessons from the outgoing bass player, Boone quickly realized that he enjoyed creating and rendering bass passages.

Steve also learned that the bass and the kick-drum are essentially “married” to each other and he developed a dynamic rhythmic rapport with Joe Butler.

Steve and Joe gigged together as a tight unit for two-years until the summer of ’64, when Boone decided to leave the band for an extended tour of Europe. Steve was in search of the Merseybeat / British Invasion sound which was garnering worldwide popularity by way of The Beatles, Dave Clark Five, and Gerry and The Pacemakers. He also planned to attend college following his sojourn overseas.

By the end of 1964 Skip and Joe Butler had moved to Greenwich Village and their band, The Sellouts, had a regular gig at one of Trudy Heller’s clubs.

During one of Steve’s visits to New York, Skip suggested that his kid brother bring along his bass.  Despite his reluctance as he was planning to head off to school soon in January 1965, Steve did as his brother asked.  When Steve arrived at Skip’s apartment, he was greeted by Joe Butler who asked if he was interested in putting his bass guitar to use with a few guys who were serious musicians. Steve made his way to
the Village Music Hall where he met John Sebastian and Zal Yanovsky.

John and Zal, who had briefly played with Cass Elliot in the Mugwumps, were seeking to assemble their own group – and all they needed was a rhythm section!

Sebastian grew up in a musical family; a guitarist and composer, he learned harmonica from his dad who was a virtuoso on the instrument. John explained to Steve that was writing songs that blended the traditional sounds of rhythm and blues records with folk style guitar.

The duo asked Steve to jam – and he pulled out his ice-box white Fender Precision bass. They jelled instantly. Having similar influences, the music came together – even in the absence of a drummer!

The night following their introductory jam, Steve went to the Night Owl Cafe to hear John play with some of his friends—Tim Hardin, Fred Neil, Buzzy Linhart, and Felix Pappalardi.  By the end of their set, Steve was convinced that he wanted to be part of this scene.  As he walked back to his brother’s apartment – all the reasons he had for returning to school and pursuing a proper career were disappearing under the dark sky above.

Steve, John and Zal had decided to move forward, and Steve would “delay” college and dedicate the next six months to getting the band off the ground.

During rehearsals the following week, John received a call from Bob Dylan, asking if he could play bass on a few songs he was recording.  As Sebastian didn’t own a bass (nor did he drive) Steve loaded his bass (and John) into his car and headed off to Columbia Studios.  As John’s parts weren’t working out, he suggested that Steve play bass. Boone’s work with Bob can be heard on Bringing It All Back Home.

The Lovin’ Spoonful – a name derived from a Mississippi John Hurt song – made their live debut in February 1965 at the Night Owl Café.

Enter Joe Butler once again, who replaced the original Spoonful drummer. Another change took place – at the suggestion of renown producer / bassist Felix Pappalardi: Steve traded his beloved P bass for a Guild Starfire II with custom electronics.  With the line-up set, the band worked to tighten up its sound and bonded as friends.

The band cut a demo of “Do You Believe in Magic”- a classic song sans a chorus, and featuring Autoharp – which was rooted in rock – yet thoroughly indebted to the folk scene from which John and Zal were a product of.  The demo was so good that Kama Sutra label pressed it and it became a smash hit!

From 1965-1968, the Spoonful enjoyed a terrific artistic and commercial run—seven Top 10 singles, three charting albums, including a Top 10 album.  “Summer in the City” reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August1966 and remained there for three weeks.

Unlike many pop bands of their era, the Lovin’ Spoonful wrote and played on all their hits. In 2000 they were finally inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In addition to his bass playing, Steve also had success as a composer, co-writing “You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice,” “Summer In The City,” and “Night Owl Blues.” Steve also wrote “Butchie’s Tune” which appeared in the film Blow Up as well as in the acclaimed TV series Mad Men. The bassist also penned “Full Measure” and “Forever,” which appeared on the final Spoonful album Everything Playing.

Boone utilized the Guild Starfire II on most of the Spoonful records save for Hums of the Lovin’ Spoonful and Everything Playing wherein Steve played a ‘61 dual concentric Fender Jazz bass – which was later stolen.

In 1973, after spending time living on a boat docked in St. Thomas, Steve moved Baltimore, where a female drummer he met while on the Islands was cutting a demo.

The recording studio featured a board equipped with parametric equalization on all the faders which was built by George Massenburg – which consequently opened the door to digital recording.  The studio had fallen into disrepair when the owner left the country and Steve took it over, renaming the venue Blue Seas Recording Studios.

Among the notable albums and artists who recorded there included Little Feat (Feats Don’t Fail Me Now) Robert Palmer (Pressure Drop),  along with tracks by Bonnie Raitt, Emmylou Harris, Verdine White, Sonny Terry, Joe Butler, John Sebastian and Ricky Scaggs, among others.

The Hunt Valley, Maryland studio was ultimately moved to a barge that was docked at Baltimore’s inner harbor.  The studio abruptly came to an end in 1977 when the barge sank.  At the time Steve was playing four nights a week with his band, Blanche, Ltd.

In 1981, Steve was playing music regularly in Baltimore with the Scott Cunningham Blues Band, doing occasional duets with John Sebastian, and sometimes, with Joe Butler, as a trio.

Steve moved to Florida in the late 1980s, taking a break from music until he was inspired by a Ft. Lauderdale pub band called The Irish Times – Steve co-produced their LP Live at Maguires Hill 16.

In 1990 promoters were itching for a Lovin’ Spoonful tour. Steve and Joe Butler decided to put a band together after John Sebastian and Zal declined a reunion of the four original members.

That band, with some personnel changes, has toured worldwide since 1991. Joe Butler has moved out front to sing, and the drums have been handled for the last twenty-five years, by Chicago born drummer Mike Arturi.

These days Steve no longer utilizes the Guild Starfire II though he did bring it out for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.  Steve’s go-to bass for the past thirteen years the Ibanez BTB.  He loves the feel of the instrument and its resonance, though he advocates that tone comes from the player – from pressure on the fretboard to sustane, and of course, and deep notes tying in with the bass drum.

In 2014, Steve published a memoire entitled Hotter Than A Match Head Life on the Run with The Lovin’
Spoonful. The book not only spans the life and career of Steve Boone, it affords a life-lesson in rebounding after facing adversity multiple times, and also details how the Spoonful emerged in the era when folk music was not widely known, yet they achieved great success by combining that roots music with rock.

In February 2020, The Wild Honey Orchestra hosted an epic four-hour celebration of the music of The Lovin’ Spoonful as a fundraiser for the Autism Think Tank at The Alex Theatre in Glendale, California.

Steve, John Sebastian and Joe Butler participated in this event.  The Orchestra included Elliot Easton (Cars),
Dennis Diken (The Smithereens), Dave Alvin (The Blasters), Susan Cowsill, Carnie Wilson (Wilson Phillips), Carla Olson (The Textones), Mickey Dolenz, Claudia Lennear, Peter Case, Marshall Crenshaw, Marti Jones, Don Dixon, and Bill Lloyd, along with many other guest performers.

Nowadays you can catch Steve and the Spoonful on tour, and listen to Steve’s weekly radio show which airs Mondays at 6 PM EDT, on www.flaglerbeachradio.com.

Watch, listen to Steve Boone:

“Do You Believe In Magic” and “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice” from the Big TNT Show 1965 https://bit.ly/3d48EaL

“Only Pretty, What A Pity” https://bit.ly/2VSa9mu

“Summer In The City”  https://bit.ly/3bWlIi1

“Night Owl Blues”  https://youtu.be/11-YxOGJ6Bs

“Butchie’s Tune” https://youtu.be/BRTkqGSKTts

American Bandstand -Interview The Lovin’ Spoonful https://bit.ly/2WgEuua

“Revelation: Revolution ‘69” https://youtu.be/PlGVriLQyn8

Steve’s Hotter Than A Match Head Life on the Run with The Lovin’ Spoonful can be found at www.SteveBoone.net

CODA:  A View of Steve Boone from “The Drum Throne”

Mike Arturi has forged a backbeat with Steve Boone for twenty-five years.

An accomplished drummer on the Chicago club circuit who has toured with such popular bands as Big Twist and the Mellow Fellows, Jade 50’s, Rick Saucedo, and radio personality Big John Howell, among others, Mike has been working 300 dates a year for close to twenty years! Aturi is an ardent student of the instrument, inspired and tutored by Petula Clark’s road drummer Shelly Elias, who was a legendary Chicago based percussionist, composer and educator.

In assessing his experience playing with Steve Boone, Mike describes Steve as a singularly unique bass player.  “He anchors the songs, and his passing tones are beautiful—extremely melodic.  He inspires me, and I play totally different because of him.” 

Notes Mike, “as long as I have Steve in my monitor, with my snare and kick, that’s all I need.”

And according to Steve, Mike became a foundation upon which he could build his bass playing. “Mike is a drummer I could comfortably lock in with as a rhythm section… [we] have developed the best chemistry I have had with any drummer.”

Honorable Mention:  When Mike in not drumming with the Spoonful, he is the Founder and Executive Director of the Universal Music Center (UMC), a non-profit music school located in Red Wing, Minnesota.

UMC is dedicated to enriching lives through music and live performance education, and is staffed with University trained educators who are also professional working musicians with national and international touring credentials.

UMC is proud of the fact that to-date, eleven students have gone on to become professional working musicians.  Mike also devotes an extensive amount of time to working with underprivileged and at-risk students.  In recognition of his contributions, Mike has been honored as a National Artist for the John F. Kennedy Center Turnaround Arts Program, and is a Teaching Artist for the St. Paul MN COMPASS Arts
Program.

By Joe Gagliardo

Around 1970 I heard a revved-up version of Sam & Dave’s “You Got Me Hummin.’  There were two additional noticeable differences—the powerful and soulful voice of a female vocalist, and a driving bass solo.  This was long before the internet, so I immediately went out and bought the LP and found out the voice belonged to Lydia Pense, and the driving bass came from Rod Ellicott.  The band was a powerful horn band out of San Francisco called Cold Blood.  I immediately became a fan of Rod’s bass playing and Cold Blood.

Woody Lingle, a recent Know Your Bass Player subject, also identifies Rod as a significant influence on his playing. Digging into Rod’s playing I came up with a major surprise.  Rod recorded the first Cold Blood LP,
dripping with soul and funk, on a Hofner Beatle Bass run directly to the board, and he played it with a thumb-pick that he held like a flat pick. After the first album, he played with his fingers.  That transition was made easier because Rod had previously played an upright bass before switching to electric bass.

Rod recorded several albums with Cold Blood, and he also played on the Pointer Sisters’ first LP.  Rod and drummer Jim Gordon teamed up to lay down the bottom for the jazz ensemble Bobby and I on their self titled album. Rod also played with moog synthesizer pioneers, Beaver and Krause, on the Grandharva LP.  Since moving to Tulsa, Rod has continued to gig with different bands, playing rock, jazz, blues, R&B, Bluegrass, and
Country …essentially all genres of music.

Rod’s weapons of choice: Rod started with a ’63 Fender Precision bass, traded it for the Hofner, switched to a Gibson EB-3L, then to a plexiglass Ampeg Dan Armstrong, and back to a Fender Precision bass.

He ran his basses through an Ampeg B15N, before moving to a Standel Combo Dual 15 rig which was replaced by an Acoustic 360 folded horn, which was replaced by a Sunn head driving two Peavey 1×15 cabinets.

Influences: Rod’s parents were musicians and he was exposed to sight reading on keys and violin.  When Rod wasn’t sticking with piano/violin lessons, his Dad told him “learn bass!  You will never be out of
work.”

He had his first pro gig on an upright at age 14, and lunged at the opportunity to buy Leo Fender’s perfect marriage of an upright bass and electric guitar.  Rod views bass as an ensemble instrument, to be felt,
as well as heard.  He is a melodic player, listens to all the parts in the song, and looks to play missing parts, some that aren’t necessarily for bass.

He has a long list of favorite bass players, including Paul McCartney, Jaco Pastorius, Peter Cetera, Verdine White, Jimmy Haslip (Yellowjackets), Victor Wooten, Willie Weeks, Esperanza Spalding, Mike King (Level 42) and Jack Casady.

These days you can catch Rod gigging in Tulsa, and you can check out his playing:

Cold Blood-Winterland-1973-Full Concert https://youtu.be/s_S4rDwVBl0  Rod’s solo on “Hummin’ at 18:10

Cold Blood “Down to the Bone” https://youtu.be/sDuqavv511I

Cold Blood “I Just Want to Make Love to You” https://youtu.be/Z3OcHzNw7lI

Cold Blood “Valdez in the Country” https://youtu.be/0TB7wvaJzfQ

Cold Blood “Come Into My Life Again” https://youtu.be/MoACT42JT_Y

Pointer Sisters “River Boulevard” https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=owZ3Wkn8ilA

By Joe Gagliardo

When an 11-year-old guitar playing kid asked his friends if he could join their band, he heard a familiar refrain: “we don’t need another guitar player…we need…a bass player!

Woody Lingle, “a Beatles guy,” tuned his guitar down and began to play bass until he got his hands on the same instrument as his idol Paul McCartney: a Hofner bass. From 1967-69 Woody gigged in South Carolina with soul band The Regals, among other ensembles.

Moving to Dayton, Ohio in ‘69 Woody became involved with his church. His Minister was on the cutting-edge of Christian Music and Woody took on the responsibility of assembling musicians to premiere this “new music.”

During this time, Woody fell in love with jazz and horn bands. In addition to Paul McCartney and James Jamerson, Woody was deeply influenced by Rod Ellicott – bassist in Cold Blood, a powerful San Francisco horn collective fronted by Lydia Pense. Rod was known for his driving bass lines and live solos.

Woody pursued a Musical Therapy Degree in South Carolina. He played in the school jazz band along with local jazz groups and big band shows – including his first two union gigs within two weeks: Liberace, and the “Lipazan Stallions Show.” With a deep desire to improve his musicianship Woody enrolled in the prestigious North Texas State University – known for their jazz school.

Woody returned to North Texas State to resume his studies and discovered that Gary Willis (co-founder of the jazz fusion band, Tribal Tech) and Gregg Bissonette (David Lee Roth, Santana) were his classmates.

Woody and Gregg played together in the internationally renowned One O’Clock Lab Band at NTSU.  They also gigged regularly with Top 40 bands and did studio work in the Dallas / Ft. Worth area.

In 1983, Woody migrated to Oklahoma City to join the band Maya, a Top 40 dance band.  While in Oklahoma City, continued his work as a studio musician, playing jazz gigs and Top 40 with Chris Hicks.

Through that work he became friendly with a producer who had played in Emmylou Harris’ renowned Hot Band.  That led him to Nashville where he lived from 1994-2011.  During that time, he played and/or recorded with Margaret Becker, Charlie Peacock, Ty Herndon, Steve Wariner, Ricky Van Shelton, among others, and composed music for popular TV shows.

In 2004, Woody received a call from Gary Puckett, and for the past sixteen years he has served as Gary’s bassist, musical director, and vocalist.

In 2011 he returned to South Carolina to take the position of Music Director for the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Cordova. There, he puts all his skills to use—writing, conducting, arranging and playing.

Since 2006, Woody’s go-to bass has been a Dean – which he endorses as a member of Gary Puckett and the Union Gap. Woody utilized a Modulus Graphite for many years. His arsenal also includes a Sire four string
Marcus Miller P7, a Dean 5 String Edge Pro, a Rob Allen semi-acoustic 5-string Fretless with black nylon strings, and his trusty Hofner, among others.

A diverse player equally at home with rock, jazz, country, pop, Latin, rhythm and blues -check out Woody with….

“The Bible According to Scofield” (Woody Lingle) https://youtu.be/7yguo05DpmA

“2 Five or Not Two 5” (Woody Lingle) https://youtu.be/4NabtcHg4-Y

“Grace” (Woody Lingle) https://youtu.be/IX1I8W2lWmQ

“Bowlegged” (GaryWillis, arranged by Woody Lingle) https://youtu.be/0i6QYgs_J7s

By Thomas Semioli

 

A Grammy nominated producer, recording artist, sideman, bandmember, musical director, multi-instrumentalist, educator, clinician, and bassist – among other distinctions: Roscoe Beck’s remarkable five-decade (and counting) career has spanned rock, fusion, jazz, folk, reggae, funk, Americana, blues and permutations thereof. 

 

Among Beck’s notable collaborations include Leonard Cohen, Eric Johnson, Robben Ford, the Vaughn Brothers, Jennifer Warnes (a Grammy nod for Famous Blue Raincoat), Passenger, Darden Smith, and The Dixie Chicks to cite a few. 

 

A fretted, fretless, and upright player, Roscoe served as Leonard Cohen’s musical director and bassist for several years until the Canadian bard’s passing. 

 

Fender has issued two signature Roscoe artist models – a four and five string with design cues taken from the Fender Jazz bass.  

 

Dig Roscoe plying grooves aplenty with Leonard from Field Commander Cohen: Tour of 1979 “Field Commander Cohen” https://youtu.be/EyLmYpSP4w4 

 

Dig Roscoe from his Walk On solo slab “Wasn’t It Fine” https://youtu.be/8FlYT66IF0E 

 

Dig Tony Senatore’s rendition of Roscoe’s “Talk To Your Daughter” with Robben Ford https://youtu.be/zeu4h5QnqYo 

 

Dig Roscoe with Passenger “Baked Benson” https://youtu.be/1nSChuNprKI

 

Dig Roscoe with Jennifer “Came So Far for Beauty” https://youtu.be/xlXNhoELB6g

 

Dig Roscoe with Oz Noy, Warren Haynes, Chris Layton, Reese Wynans https://youtu.be/imhsexYLwTE