Little is known to Know Your Bass Player regarding the career of Bill Takas – other than he was/is an exemplary player with credits that span a long association with Bob Dorough with whom he waxed several sides, along with his membership in Ten Wheel Drive, and record dates with LaBelle, Buzzy Linhart, Judy Collins, and Doc Severinson, to cite a few.

A fluid player with a fat tone – if you know about Bill Takas, let us know!

Bill Takas Sound & Vision…

Ten Wheel Drive:

“Tightrope” https://youtu.be/vn5QpfQLREM

“Ain’t Gonna Happen” https://youtu.be/2lGGcJz0wG8  

Bob Dorough & Bill Takas:

“Beginning to See the Light” https://youtu.be/XDzZxzj4pSQ

“Better Than Anything” https://youtu.be/RU3uzecq4n8

Buzzy Linhart:

“Cheat Cheat Lied” / “Hit The Road Jack” https://youtu.be/3VN-R-lpFJY

“Time to Live is Now” https://youtu.be/XAhwDx8DasU

“Because the Love is Still Growing” https://youtu.be/6GHBNKZgp3g

Doc Severinson “In the Court of the Crimson King” https://youtu.be/4xlxIVZ0FrY

LaBelle “Morning Much Better” https://youtu.be/UsFjMuLSiKg

By Thomas Semioli

Among the first established upright cats to embrace the electric amid a storm of criticism from the jazz police, Bob Cranshaw was renowned for his long association with Sonny Rollins. In fact, Cranshaw gravitated to the instrument as a result of a serious back injury in an automobile accident.

A prolific recording artist and sideman, he is among the instrument’s most recorded players on upright and electric.  Bob’s career spanned Tony Bennett, Buddy Rich, Paul Simon, George Shearing, Frank Sinatra, Grant Green, Judy Collins, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, and Joe Henderson to cite an extremely select few.

Cranshaw served as the first house bass player for Saturday Night Live from 1975-80 and was the musical director for The Dick Cavett Show in the 1980s.

An activist for the Musician’s Union, Bob was a strong campaigner for artists’ rights regarding pensions and royalties until his passing in 2016.

Bob Cranshaw Sound & Vision

With Paul Simon “It Was a Sunny Day” https://youtu.be/Kz9o3tf9lmk

Bob on stage with Sonny Jazz Jambouree 1980 https://youtu.be/QWE83meaNME

With Lee Morgan “You Go to My Head” https://youtu.be/dMsBCDVXHGc

With Buddy Rich “How Long” https://youtu.be/jtFmLwdUqnw