His dancing bass solo with Olivia Newton John is legend. https://youtu.be/CyHpa-LaZYc

 

If ever a bassist was aptly monikered, it was the late, great Robert “Pops” Popwell!  A composer, producer, session ace, anchor of the iconic Crusaders, and in-demand sideman – Pops popped, slapped, plucked, glissando-ed, and grooved with a soulful disposition that drew from jazz, funk, rock, blues, gospel and permutations thereof.

 

Popwell first came to prominence as the anchor of the “Macon Rhythm Section” which included Johnny Sandlin (Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts), Pete Carr, Paul Hornsby, and Jim Hawkins, waxing sides with Doris Duke and Hubert Laws, among others.

 

The scope of Pop’s canon is remarkable: Rascals, Aretha, Irma Thomas, Eddie Money, Allen Toussaint, Gregg Allman, Bob Dylan, B.B. King, George Benson, Ronnie Wood, Bette Midler, Larry Carlton, Smokey Robinson, Ruth Brown, and Dee Dee Bridgewater, to cite a very, very  select few.

 

Pops’ basslines can be heard in numerous hip-hop samples. A true giant of the instrument…sadly Pops popped his clogs in 2017.

 

Pops Popwell Sound & Vision…

 

The Crusaders:

 

“The Spiral” featuring a Pops solo https://youtu.be/FEH-lwu1ryQ

 

“Stomp and Buck Dance” https://youtu.be/-UxyIw-zMFA

 

“Fairy Tales” https://youtu.be/Eigs0SHbQLY

 

“Soul Caravan” https://youtu.be/KnLnWsgq798

 

The Rascals:

 

“Be On The Real Side” https://youtu.be/QMxisKUgbZ8

 

“Lucky Day” https://youtu.be/pUZ3uVgLDOc

 

Ronnie Wood: “Worry No More” https://youtu.be/HS-9oTIwHfw

 

Larry Carlton: “Upper Kern” https://youtu.be/0sUbOXgakhI

 

Lisa Dal Bello: “Day Dream” https://youtu.be/mAOY1Halp0s

 

George Benson: “Welcome to My World” https://youtu.be/md6IgJlq7Kc

 

Doris Duke: “He’s Gone” https://youtu.be/lfiH1zsecWg

 

Eddie Money: “Wanna Be a Rock and Roll Star” https://youtu.be/a0Ezs

 

 

He is known among friends and hard rockers worldwide as “Electric Church!”

 

A consummate pocket and song player who plies nifty unison lines and melodic extensions aplenty – Bill Church set the foundation for one of the most influential hard rock collections ever committed to vinyl: Montrose (1973).

 

Primarily a Fender Precision devotee, Bill’s career commenced in the late 60s with the band Sawbuck. Church moved on to Van Morrison’s band to anchor such classic platters as Tupelo Honey (1971) and St. Dominic’s Preview (1972). When Sammy split from Montrose (or was fired) Bill was a mainstay in Hagar’s ensembles for several seminal sides and tours – and on occasion Church will guest at a Sammy show for a few tunes.

 

Van Morrison “Wild Night” https://youtu.be/bXoBnmJtqhY

 

Montrose “Rock Candy” https://youtu.be/z25xrCoTdZI

 

Montrose “Bad Motor Scooter” https://youtu.be/tk52nGxF-jc

 

Dig Bill and Sammy on “Leaving the Warmth of the Womb” which reunited the classic Montrose line-up in 1997. https://youtu.be/kYzfc6gkMt4