Roscoe Beck
Encyclopedia
Roscoe Beck is a multi-Grammy Award
winning record producer
and bassist
. He has recorded and played with Robben Ford
, Eric Johnson
, Leonard Cohen
, The Dixie Chicks. He also has his own signature electric bass: the Fender Roscoe Beck Bass
, used by many other players.
After earning a reputation from Austin
to L.A. as a solid bassist with such artists as Robben Ford
, Eric Johnson
and Joe Ely
, Beck made his debut as a producer in 1986 on Jennifer Warnes
' highly acclaimed collection of Leonard Cohen
songs, Famous Blue Raincoat
. Since then, he has produced numerous projects, including albums by Cohen and Ford. "I reached the point where I wanted to be more than someone's bass player," he says, "and producing seemed the logical direction." In his current playing and co-producing role with Robben Ford & the Blue Line, Beck's consideration for the overall sound of the group has led him to move up the fingerboard
, where he rounds out the trio's sound with simultaneously tapped chords and bass lines.
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
winning record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
. He has recorded and played with Robben Ford
Robben Ford
Robben Ford is an American blues, jazz and rock guitarist.-Biography:Ford was born in Woodlake, California, United States, but raised in Ukiah, California, and began playing the saxophone at age 10, picking up the guitar at age 13...
, Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson is an American guitarist. Though he is best known for his success in the instrumental rock format, Johnson regularly incorporates jazz, fusion, gospel and country and western music into his recordings...
, Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
, The Dixie Chicks. He also has his own signature electric bass: the Fender Roscoe Beck Bass
Fender Roscoe Beck Bass
The Roscoe Beck Bass is an Artist Signature Series electric bass guitar made by Fender for Texas bass veteran Roscoe Beck. Modeled after a custom-made 6-string bass built for Beck himself by luthier Michael Stevens of Stevens Guitars, this one-of-a-kind design came in 4 and 5-string versions and...
, used by many other players.
After earning a reputation from Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
to L.A. as a solid bassist with such artists as Robben Ford
Robben Ford
Robben Ford is an American blues, jazz and rock guitarist.-Biography:Ford was born in Woodlake, California, United States, but raised in Ukiah, California, and began playing the saxophone at age 10, picking up the guitar at age 13...
, Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson
Eric Johnson is an American guitarist. Though he is best known for his success in the instrumental rock format, Johnson regularly incorporates jazz, fusion, gospel and country and western music into his recordings...
and Joe Ely
Joe Ely
Joe Ely is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist whose music touches on honky-tonk, Texas Country, Tex-Mex and rock and roll....
, Beck made his debut as a producer in 1986 on Jennifer Warnes
Jennifer Warnes
Jennifer Jean Warnes is an American singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer. She is known for her interpretations of compositions written by herself and many others, as well as an extensive playlist as a vocalist on movie soundtracks.Between 1979 and 1987 Warnes surpassed Frank Sinatra as...
' highly acclaimed collection of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
songs, Famous Blue Raincoat
Famous Blue Raincoat (album)
Famous Blue Raincoat is the sixth album by Jennifer Warnes. It debuted on the Billboard 200 on February 14, 1987 and peaked at No. 72. Originally released by Cypress Records, it was reissued by Private Music after Cypress went out of business....
. Since then, he has produced numerous projects, including albums by Cohen and Ford. "I reached the point where I wanted to be more than someone's bass player," he says, "and producing seemed the logical direction." In his current playing and co-producing role with Robben Ford & the Blue Line, Beck's consideration for the overall sound of the group has led him to move up the fingerboard
Fingerboard
The fingerboard is a part of most stringed instruments. It is a thin, long strip of material, usually wood, that is laminated to the front of the neck of an instrument and above which the strings run...
, where he rounds out the trio's sound with simultaneously tapped chords and bass lines.