Richard Thompson Discusses His Bass Players VIDEO INTERVIEW

 

“Ask him about throwing Roy Harper off a ferry!”

In this video preview from an episode of The Bass Guitar Channel Radio Show on Cygnus Radio with host David C. Gross and Know Your Bass Player “honcho” Tom Semioli, Richard Thompson discusses the bassists he’s employed over the years including Jerry Scheff (Elvis Presley, The Doors), David Pegg (Jethro Tull, Fairport Convention), Danny Thompson (Pentangle), Pat Donaldson (Fotheringay, Chris Spedding, Sandy Denny), Bruce Lynch (Kate Bush, Cat Stevens), Willie Weeks (Donny Hathaway, Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton), and Taras Prodaniuk (Lucinda Williams).

 

Tommy Cogbill (Elvis Presley, Dusty Springfield)

Courtesy of Elvis The Music Com - Elvis with Tommy Cogbill and Tommy’s Fender bass Courtesy of Elvis The Music Com - Elvis with Tommy Cogbill and Tommy’s Fender bass

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