James Jamerson

Induction Year: 2000

Induction Category: Sidemen

One of the unsung heroes of the Motown sound, James Jamerson was described by Motown founder Berry Gordy as “a genius on the bass...and incredible improviser in the studio and somebody I always wanted on my sessions.” He was the anchor of the in-house group at Motown dubbed the Funk Brothers. Though few among the record-buying public ever never knew Jamerson by name, they were well-acquainted with his work, which included the bass lines on such Motown classics as “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” by ; “Dancing in the Street,” by ; “I Was Made to Love Her,” by Stevie Wonder; and “You Can’t Hurry Love,” by . His groove-oriented melodicism brought about a broader awareness of the role and possibilities of the bass guitar, and no less an authority than rates him as an influence on his own playing. In a 1995 interview with Bass Guitar magazine, McCartney recalled his training on the instrument: “I started listening to other bass players mainly Motown. As time went on, James Jamerson became my hero...because he was so good and melodic.”

Born in 1938 in Charleston, South Carolina, Jamerson moved to Detroit in the early Fifties. He took up the bass in high school and joined Jackie Wilson’s band later in the decade. In 1959, Jamerson became a founding member of Motown studio band, and his inventive work on the Fender Precision bass proved a defining element of the Motown sound. In 1964, he stopped touring to devote himself exclusively to studio work at Motown’s “Hitsville” headquarters, on West Grand Boulevard in Detroit. One of the guarded secrets of the Motown sound was the interaction between bass and drums. According to Motown keyboardist and bandleader Earl Van Dyke, “We were sworn to secrecy, and one of the secrets was between James and [drummers] and Uriel Jones.” Jamerson followed the company west when Berry moved Motown’s headquarters to Los Angeles, but the association between Motown and Jamerson ended in 1973. Jamerson, who’d been battling alcoholism, died of pneumonia in 1983 at the age of 45.

TIMELINE

January 29, 1938: James Jamerson is born in Charleston, South Carolina.

1953: James Jamerson moves to Detroit and takes up the bass.

1959: Motown founder Berry Gordy enlists James Jamerson into the Motown house band, an ensemble of exceptional musicians who will be dubbed “the Funk Brothers.” For much of the Sixties they will provide the backing for virtually all of the records coming out of Motown and its affiliated labels.

1959-1972: James Jamerson plays bass on countless Motown singles and album tracks, including classics by , , , , the Miracles, the Marvelettes, and others.

1973: James Jamerson relocates from Detroit to Los Angeles.

August 2, 1983: James Jamerson dies of pneumonia in Los Angeles.

March 6, 2000: James Jamerson is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the fifteenth annual induction dinner. Mike Leiber and Jerry Stoller are his presenters.

Essential Recordings

I Was Made to Love Her (Stevie Wonder)
Dancing in the Street (Martha and the Vandellas)
Reach Out, I’ll Be There (Four Tops)
You Can’t Hurry Love (Supremes)
I Can’t Help Myself (Four Tops)
You Keep Me Hangin’ On (Supremes)
Ain’t That Peculiar (Marvin Gaye)
My Girl (Miracles)
What’s Going On (Marvin Gaye)
Going to a Go-Go (Miracles)

Hank Williams' White Wool Felt Cowboy Hat

Photo by Design Photography
Collection of Marty Stuart