Bob Babbit passed way on Monday, July 16, 2012. He played bass guitar on over 200 Top 40 hit songs. Here I pay respect to his talented life remembered.
Had the great pleasure of meeting him in NYC when The Funk Brothers passed through town. I met him and the band after the show and they all signed a Funk Brothers T Shirt. Great band. RIP BOB and more recently Joe Messina.
I didn't know Bob Babbit had passed on. Wow. He passed 9 yrs. ago. He was on so many great songs with his iconic playing. My favorite was his playing on "Scorpio". That bass solo is outta this world. Wow he was on over 200 top 40 hits. What a great legacy you left this world. RIP Bob Babbitt. God bless.
Jamerson was so great that his legend has kind of swamped a lot of BB's achievements. A lot of people have credited JJ with some of Bob's lines assuming they were hearing JJ, so thanks for this, setting straight the record.
He also played on "Tears of clown". It's the first Motown bassline I learned to play as a teenager. I thought I was replicating the work of the great James Jamerson and it wasn't until many years later I found out I'd actually been replicating the work of the great Bob Babbit.
2 Funk Brothers (Bob and James Jamerson) and an honorary Funk Sister (Wrecking Crew member Carol Kaye) seem to have all played bass on a bunch of classic Motown dates. Anyone else in the mix?
Bob Babitt probably didn't get the recognition he fully deserved, I think he was a better bassist than JJ and played on more recordings plus more live performances RIP Bob you were the best.
I'm sorry if my delivery was too positive for you. I had a lot of info to give in a short period of time. I wasn't cheery, I was fast. Thank you for your comment.
Midnight Train to Georgia is one of the greatest Basslines in history and an absolute joy to play. Bob was a genius.
Total genius. That baseline is truly the greatest. It is the song.
Had the great pleasure of meeting him in NYC when The Funk Brothers passed through town. I met him and the band after the show and they all signed a Funk Brothers T Shirt. Great band. RIP BOB and more recently Joe Messina.
You were blessed to meet him and them.
He was a kind gentleman as well , he played on one of my sessions in NYC back in the 70's ...RIP Bob.
Thank you for sharing.
Great description of Babbitt and Jamerson; "James was genuis, Bob was brilliant." Motown had two of the best bassists on the planet!!
Thank you!
Bob also played bass on the infamous posthumous album of Jimi Hendrix, Crash Landing.
Also with Alice Cooper, Robert Palmer and Engelbert Humperdinck.
I think they got tracks of my tears and tears of a clown mixed up. Jamerson was on tracks of my tears and babbitt was on tears of a clown.
I didn't know Bob Babbit had passed on. Wow. He passed 9 yrs. ago. He was on so many great songs with his iconic playing. My favorite was his playing on "Scorpio". That bass solo is outta this world. Wow he was on over 200 top 40 hits. What a great legacy you left this world. RIP Bob Babbitt. God bless.
Jamerson was so great that his legend has kind of swamped a lot of BB's achievements. A lot of people have credited JJ with some of Bob's lines assuming they were hearing JJ, so thanks for this, setting straight the record.
Thank you, Alonzo Garbanzo, for reaching out.
I am 73 and Bob was a hero of mine...he played on a lot of many hits for different people
Thank you for that comment.
The only bassist that could follow James Jamerson, legend!
One of the Funk Brothers R.I.P memories of Motown will never be forgotten. UK.
Not to mention many tracks he played on for HDH when they had invictus records .Band of gold etc etc.
You know more about him than I do. Thanks for the info. Also, thanks for the comments.
Loved him rest my brother
He did one of the best and earliest bass solos on the song Scorpio back in the 60's
That bad boy was the monster.
He also played on "Tears of clown". It's the first Motown bassline I learned to play as a teenager. I thought I was replicating the work of the great James Jamerson and it wasn't until many years later I found out I'd actually been replicating the work of the great Bob Babbit.
Damn...what an underrated bass player!
I totally agree.
Still missin' Bobby Babbit.........ALL of the Funk Brothers!
I agree.
I just found this out! RIP Bob. God rest you.
2 Funk Brothers (Bob and James Jamerson) and an honorary Funk Sister (Wrecking Crew member Carol Kaye) seem to have all played bass on a bunch of classic Motown dates. Anyone else in the mix?
Thanks a lot for your music Funk Brother!
The Best 😢
Thanks for this!! what a great bassist
Thank you for your comment.
One of Pittsburgh’s favorite sons. One of the greatest and most underrated.
Mr. B.B. The Bass Man! He will 4ever B a Bass Legend! 11 years gone but never forgotten. Play In Peace!
you gain a whole new respect for his playing when you hear him play using airpods or high quality headphones
Studio grade monitor speakers are good as well :-)
Don't forget "Scorpio", by Dennis Coffey.
Bob Babitt probably didn't get the recognition he fully deserved, I think he was a better bassist than JJ and played on more recordings plus more live performances RIP Bob you were the best.
Thank you for that comment.
Paulnash7630...You are probably correct.
I wanted to play like him when I was younger. 😐
Thank you for that comment.
Bob Babbit and James Jameson were a great combination and adding Wilton Felder later on just took them over the top they are all missed
Before Motown, he played on other hits including a few with Del Shannon.
THIS BASS VIRTUOSO HAS THE MOTHER OF THE RESUME🙏🎸🎼🎵🎶
RIP..
It is a pity Bob Babbit passed way but after, James Jamerson died, he take the place , some Bass Player on Motown Records .
AND HE ALSO PLAYED ON SOME SPINNERS SONG'S ,, WHY WASN'T THAT MENTIONED ?
I like the description someone made of two of Motown's awesome bassists: "James was genuis, Bob was brilliant." Two of the world's best!
BAD, BAD ,DUDE, DETROIT BASS.
You said it.
Barry Manilow? I guess he was in it for the money there.
As we say in the music biz, work is work
I don't think I'd say "No man, not gonna play on a Barry Manilow track. Not hip enough."
What a weird comment. He was a professional and he had bills to pay.
Thats an awful cheerful tone to be talking about cancer
I'm sorry if my delivery was too positive for you. I had a lot of info to give in a short period of time. I wasn't cheery, I was fast. Thank you for your comment.