Bob Babbitt
Encyclopedia
Bob Babbitt is an American
bassist
, most famous for his work as a member of Motown Records
' studio band, the Funk Brothers, from 1966–1972, as well as his tenure as part of MFSB
for Philadelphia International Records
afterwards. Also in 1968-1970, with Mike Campbell
, Ray Monette
and Andrew Smith he formed the band Scorpion.
. Over the course of his career, Babbit has played on over 200 Billboard Hot 100
Top 40 hits, for Motown and other labels as well.
Among Babbitt's most notable bass performances are "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
" by Stevie Wonder
, "War" by Edwin Starr
, "The Tears of a Clown
" by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
" and "Inner City Blues" by Marvin Gaye
, and "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)
" and Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
by The Temptations
. He has participated in hundreds of other hits, including "Little Town Flirt" by Del Shannon
, "I Got a Name
" by Jim Croce
, "Midnight Train to Georgia
" by Gladys Knight & the Pips
, "Scorpio
" by Dennis Coffey & the Detroit Guitar Band
, "Supernatural Thing" by Ben E. King
and "(The) Rubberband Man
" by The Spinners.
He also played on the Jimi Hendrix
album Crash Landing. He accepted an offer from Phil Collins
to perform on his album of Motown and 1960s soul classics Going Back
.
Bob Babbitt has been a participant in the annual Rockin Christmas Fund charity fundraiser event held each year to help children in need.
He appeared onstage on an episode of American Idol
backing up Jacob Lusk's performance of "You're All I Need To Get By
" for AI's Motown Week in March 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
bassist
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, most famous for his work as a member of Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
' studio band, the Funk Brothers, from 1966–1972, as well as his tenure as part of MFSB
MFSB
MFSB was a pool of more than thirty studio musicians based at Philadelphia’s famed Sigma Sound Studios. They worked closely with the production team of Gamble and Huff and producer/arranger Thom Bell, and backed up such groups as Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, the O’Jays, the Stylistics, the...
for Philadelphia International Records
Philadelphia International Records
Philadelphia International Records is a record label founded by writer-producers, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff in 1971. It was famous for showcasing the sub-genre of Philadelphia soul music and released a string of worldwide hits during the decade.-History:...
afterwards. Also in 1968-1970, with Mike Campbell
Michael Campbell (musician and actor)
The American Michael Campbell started his public career as a singer, songwriter and musician in Detroit. In 1967 with an ephemeral band called 'The Abstract Reality', a 45 rpm single Love Burns Like A Fire Inside was released. With Bob 'Babbitt' Kreinar, Ray Monette and Andrew Smith he formed...
, Ray Monette
Ray Monette
The American Ray Monette started his public career as a songwriter and musician in Detroit. In 1967 with an ephemeral band called 'The Abstract Reality', a 45 rpm single Love Burns Like A Fire Inside was released. With Mike Campbell, Bob 'Babbitt' Kreinar, and Andrew Smith he formed Scorpion...
and Andrew Smith he formed the band Scorpion.
James Jamerson
James Lee Jamerson was an American bass player. He was the uncredited bassist on most of Motown Records' hits in the 1960s and early 1970s , and he is now regarded as one of the most influential bass players in modern music history...
. Over the course of his career, Babbit has played on over 200 Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
Top 40 hits, for Motown and other labels as well.
Among Babbitt's most notable bass performances are "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" is a soul single by American musician Stevie Wonder, recorded for Motown's Tamla label. Released in June 1970, the song spent six weeks at number one on the U.S. R&B chart and peaked at number three on the U.S. Pop chart...
" by Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, "War" by Edwin Starr
Edwin Starr
Edwin Starr was an American soul music singer. Starr is most famous for his Norman Whitfield produced singles of the 1970s, most notably the number one hit "War".-Biography:...
, "The Tears of a Clown
The Tears of a Clown
"The Tears of a Clown" is a song by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles for the Tamla label, originally released on the 1967 album Make It Happen. It was re-released in the United Kingdom as a single in September 1970, where it became a #1 hit on the UK singles chart...
" by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
"Mercy Mercy Me " was the second single from Marvin Gaye's 1971 album, What's Going On. Following the breakthrough of the title track's success, the song, written solely by Gaye, became one of his most poignant anthems of sorrow regarding the environment...
" and "Inner City Blues" by Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
, and "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)
Ball of Confusion (That's What the World is Today)
"Ball of Confusion " is a 1970 hit single for The Temptations. It was released on the Gordy label, and produced by Norman Whitfield....
" and Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)
Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)
"Just My Imagination " is a song by American soul group The Temptations. Released on the Gordy label, and produced by Norman Whitfield, it features on the group's 1971 album, Sky's the Limit. When released as a single, "Just My Imagination" became the third Temptations song to reach number one on...
by The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
. He has participated in hundreds of other hits, including "Little Town Flirt" by Del Shannon
Del Shannon
Del Shannon was an American rock and roll singer-songwriter who had a No. 1 hit, "Runaway", in 1961.- Biography :...
, "I Got a Name
I Got a Name
-Songwriting:Croce's wife Ingrid Croce has an autobiographical cookbook, Thyme In A Bottle, in which she writes interesting anecdotes about Jim. What she wrote about "I'll Have To Say 'I Love You' in a Song" is this....
" by Jim Croce
Jim Croce
James Joseph "Jim" Croce January 10, 1943 – September 20, 1973 was an American singer-songwriter. Between 1966 and 1973, Croce released five studio albums and 11 singles...
, "Midnight Train to Georgia
Midnight Train to Georgia
"Midnight Train to Georgia" is a 1973 number-one hit single by Gladys Knight & the Pips, their second release after departing Motown Records for Buddah Records...
" by Gladys Knight & the Pips
Gladys Knight & the Pips
Gladys Knight & The Pips were an R&B/soul family musical act from Atlanta, Georgia, active from 1953 to 1989. The group was best known for their string of hit singles on Motown's "Soul" record label and Buddah Records from 1967 to 1975, including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Midnight...
, "Scorpio
Scorpio (song)
"Scorpio" also can refer to a song by Dennis Coffey and the Detroit Guitar Band"Scorpio" is a single released by South Korean rock band TRAX. It was recorded and released in two versions: Japanese and Korean....
" by Dennis Coffey & the Detroit Guitar Band
Dennis Coffey
Dennis Coffey is an American guitarist. He was a studio musician for many soul and R&B recordings.-Biography:Coffey learned to play guitar at the age of thirteen, in the Michigan Upper Peninsula town of Copper City...
, "Supernatural Thing" by Ben E. King
Ben E. King
Benjamin Earl King , better known as Ben E. King, is an American soul singer. He is perhaps best known as the singer and co-composer of "Stand by Me", a U.S...
and "(The) Rubberband Man
The Rubberband Man
"The Rubberband Man" is a song recorded by the American vocal group The Spinners .The song, written by producer Thom Bell and Linda Creed, was about Bell's son, who was being teased by his classmates for being overweight...
" by The Spinners.
He also played on the Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
album Crash Landing. He accepted an offer from Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
to perform on his album of Motown and 1960s soul classics Going Back
Going Back (Phil Collins album)
Going Back is Phil Collins's eighth studio album. It was released on 13 September 2010 in the United Kingdom and 28 September 2010 in the United States. and features covers of 60s Motown & Soul standards...
.
Bob Babbitt has been a participant in the annual Rockin Christmas Fund charity fundraiser event held each year to help children in need.
He appeared onstage on an episode of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
backing up Jacob Lusk's performance of "You're All I Need To Get By
You're All I Need to Get By
"You're All I Need to Get By" is a song recorded by the American R&B/soul duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell and released on Motown Records' Tamla label in 1968. It was the basis for the 1995 single "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" from Method Man and Mary J...
" for AI's Motown Week in March 2011.