There is a huge problem with this interview. It's about 2 hours too short. Man, what a rich piece of history this is! Good on you for doing this, keep the stories, the legends and the music alive.
I love how effortless this old man makes it seem to play perfect syncopated funk basslines. So many technically advanced bass players today have a hard time doing that, and doesn't really get the funk. This dude can play two or three notes, and make it super funky just with the right accenting and timing.
I am a bassist. I have always appreciated this elder' bassist approach to our instrument of choice. So glad he received his own recognition because he contributed before some of us were born! Space King(meaning...he's always in pocket on the one).He is the ONE!
Man, I'm Still Listenin' To The J.B's, And I Was Born In 1970. Downloaded All Their C.D.'s Into My iTunes Library. Those Sides Are Still Funky, Can't Get Enough.
Love Fred so much. Between him and Bootsy.. their bass lines influenced my playing more than anyone.. next to George Porter Jr from The Meters. So thankful he lives here in Brooklyn and in normal times plays for free/donation all the time... seeing him so many times has been the best bass education a Funk fanatic could ever hope for!
Learned so much in that short video time, and wanted more. You need to do a series on just this man, he has so many inside stories that would be so entertaining , I could listen to him for hours. I know bass strings are tough, but I can just imagine playing at the fast tempo that it took to play behind James Brown, and for several hours , man , after a show your whole body had to be vibrating. Then to know this man did it for 30 years is too amazing, he is a Bass God. Thanks for this music lesson and history lesson ..
Man I thought that dude was Gil Scott-Heron! He took over for Bootsy in '71 when Bootsy, Catfish, Kash, Chicken, and Robert, the Cincinnati connection, left the JBs. By the time Fred came on board, the funk had hit its stride. He took the baton, never looked back, and brought it on home!👑🎸🎵
Toured with Mr. Brown and the Soul Generals on 7 continents as tech dir mixing FOH. Mr. Fred is without exception one of the finest Musicians on the Planet! I’m 71 years old and still find my self smiling at all the Great memories I have of this time of my life. Mr. Fred Thomas is a Real living Legend and will and can transport you back to a time when the Music could and would Rock you to the core! Best Wishes Mr. Fred......
James brown would put him on fine if he play something different than downstrokes that´s notorious , although things change in the eighties and bass player are alowed to slap and play whatever style .
I've always loved the funk coming from JB's band. Those guys was tight and to hear how JB ran a tight ship; I can see why. James Brown was the creator of funk music from way back in the '60's.
That was after the great Bootsy Collins Bootsy Collins started with him when he was just 19 years old and he said do anything you want but start on the one .It was a great interview with Bootsy Collins talking about his days with playing for the Godfather of Soul
Lee Geoffrey True. Bootsy and jammed with James another 2-3 more til BC got his gig together (with his brother) and rest was funk history! A la another James Brown production♦♫
@ Lee Geoffrey I first saw Bootsy and his brother Catfish in my home town playing at a night club playing behind Marva Whitney ? She had a hit record Called "It's My Thing" out of King records James Brown's label. The song was a take off the Isley Bros. Hit "It Your Thing". She was a One Hit Wonder. Even then Bootsy was a stand out, looking like a Jimmy Hendrix style personality with a unque sound and style. Looking tall and skinny with sun glasses on stage under the lights. Myself a young musician just starting my trio was the opening act to get the audience dancing and cheering.
Excuse me my bad, 33 years behind James Brown, I wanted to correct my mistake because any man that can get FUNKY with JB for so long needs my respect to get the record straight...RIP JAMES BROWN , THE GODFATHER..
i heard a funny story from mike lawler who played with james and the allman bros. he said james kept a small lockbox on his private jet that was very special to him. mike was flying with james once to play at a sporting event. james called for his private box and it turned out to have candy bars in it . sweet,i think he shared some.
two words DAVID WESTON who could imitate Bootsy & made lines work some of the fastest tyempi JB ever called - Bodyheat/Look At Them Cakes/Eyesight among Weston's aazing stuff
I know the guitar player and sax player from those live shots. Played with them in the Alex LoDico Ensemble. Husband and wife, Gabriel and Kaori. She is a monster!
Nice .. the $50 fine is a great story. Any idea what's playing on the screen behind the band from about 2:38 to 2:51? You could say that it caught my attention.
that's something one of the owner's of the bar, Freddy's, put together in his video collages. His name is Donald. ha ha! Yeah, it went well with the music.
I live his solo at the end of More Peas. Then James Brown ses "Chunk Jab...Jab Chunk" and Jabo comes back in wid the beat. The groove is so laid back and funky and utterly irresistible. Ive been listening to this for over 30 years now. Word of advice though, get a good sound system and avoid mp3's if you can. Just my opinion.
1:09 all musicians should take the note. You don’t have to be so technical. Once you have the skill, master the art, the feelin, which is the only thing that matters to people who lack skill (like me) but live for the the feelin. As long as the groove is there...NOTHING ELSE MATTERS to the ear, the portal to the heart and mind.
MUSICIAN EXCELLENT, SENSATIONAL BASSIST CONGRATULATION. JAMES BROWN EXTRAORDINARY WAS BECAUSE HE HAD EXCELLENT MUSICIANS. TO REMEMBER: GET ON THE GOOD FOOT. SOLO BASS.
James Brown fined his bass player $50.00 for overstepping the last note while Quincy Jones was watching? That's nothing. Mark E. Smith fined a musician 60 Pounds for eating salad.
There is a huge problem with this interview. It's about 2 hours too short. Man, what a rich piece of history this is! Good on you for doing this, keep the stories, the legends and the music alive.
If you haven't aeen it, you can find the Bootsy interviews and ones from other alumni on RUclips.
This man and Clyde put all The world to dance!!!>>>pure genuin legend in music!!!!
I love how effortless this old man makes it seem to play perfect syncopated funk basslines. So many technically advanced bass players today have a hard time doing that, and doesn't really get the funk. This dude can play two or three notes, and make it super funky just with the right accenting and timing.
he has the language
Everyone has their thing..
Somebody FINALLY interviewed this man here. Love it!
I am a bassist. I have always appreciated this elder' bassist approach to our instrument of choice. So glad he received his own recognition because he contributed before some of us were born! Space King(meaning...he's always in pocket on the one).He is the ONE!
Man, I'm Still Listenin' To The J.B's, And I Was Born In 1970. Downloaded All Their C.D.'s Into My iTunes Library. Those Sides Are Still Funky, Can't Get Enough.
I’m in heaven! Thank you for doing this interview
What a great bass player Fred Thomas💓!!
Love this guy.. He lives a 5 houses down from me.. NICE GUY..
Where at brother
@@evaneverything119 Brooklyn, NY
He is a hero of mine. Friendly Fred--in the key of F!
I can’t even tell you how much I enjoyed this! What a blessing this brother is!!!!
Love Fred so much. Between him and Bootsy.. their bass lines influenced my playing more than anyone.. next to George Porter Jr from The Meters. So thankful he lives here in Brooklyn and in normal times plays for free/donation all the time... seeing him so many times has been the best bass education a Funk fanatic could ever hope for!
Some people are just born to be musicians and Fred is one of them.
Mr James brown band is in their own rank no one dare can duplicate the magic and heart and life 🧬🧬 James brown is a King 👑 👑 all good
Learned so much in that short video time, and wanted more. You need to do a series on just this man, he has so many inside stories that would be so entertaining , I could listen to him for hours. I know bass strings are tough, but I can just imagine playing at the fast tempo that it took to play behind James Brown, and for several hours , man , after a show your whole body had to be vibrating. Then to know this man did it for 30 years is too amazing, he is a Bass God. Thanks for this music lesson and history lesson ..
we got Fred on The Bass Shed. Here's an excerpt of a longer interview. Fun! ruclips.net/video/Ym_PaerixJM/видео.html
James Brown was the greatest nobody can even come close to this genius
Man I thought that dude was Gil Scott-Heron!
He took over for Bootsy in '71 when Bootsy, Catfish, Kash, Chicken, and Robert, the Cincinnati connection, left the JBs. By the time Fred came on board, the funk had hit its stride. He took the baton, never looked back, and brought it on home!👑🎸🎵
He is nothing like Scott Heron at all. They are easy to tell apart.
Toured with Mr. Brown and the Soul Generals on 7 continents as tech dir mixing FOH. Mr. Fred is without exception one of the finest Musicians on the Planet! I’m 71 years old and still find my self smiling at all the Great memories I have of this time of my life. Mr. Fred Thomas is a Real living Legend and will and can transport you back to a time when the Music could and would Rock you to the core! Best Wishes Mr. Fred......
playing in Antartica must have been epic
Fred Thomas is a good friend of mine..nice brother..
Did he ever get out of funky D?
yeah, me too, I be knowing from round the way y'all
And he is my cousin
Looks like a great guy.
Originally James Brown had several bass players such as Bernard Odum, Charles Sherrell, Boosty Collins, and of course Fred Thomas
Fred Thomas = *LEGEND*
Fred played all of those boomin' bass lines with just his thumb!
Can't mess with that kinda talent.
Surprised the mess outta me!
Big In The Burgh 1
Possibly a Wes Montgomery influence . . .
don't need more than one finger when you get it right. James Jamerson just used his index finger.
James brown would put him on fine if he play something different than downstrokes that´s notorious , although things change in the eighties and bass player are alowed to slap and play whatever style .
Mr. Fred Thomas is one of a kind. Cool cat and funky as they come.
We taught the world how to groove .Right On!!!
One of my best friends. Lives 5 houses down the block from me in Brooklyn. Excellent teacher too
How cool to listen to these stories and knowledge from this incredible musician...and what a lovely guy he is !! :)
I've always loved the funk coming from JB's band. Those guys was tight and to hear how JB ran a tight ship; I can see why. James Brown was the creator of funk music from way back in the '60's.
took me a while to get around to it but this guy is pretty much my favorite player
Love this Brother and his style........looking like Gil Scott.. Peace.
I love this guy.
Would love to hear more of Fred
It's a new vid of him performing this year
@@iamLexxKelsey nice interview here ruclips.net/video/Ym_PaerixJM/видео.html
Thoroughly enjoyed.
What an amazing guy Fred is! Love him.
I never knew this man, or about him, but MANY TIMES, I commented on the phenomenal base line on a JB song.
Fred Thomas FUNK Royalty
you, too Funky Leroy Harper!
These guys are MY real life superheroes.
Fantastic!
that's my dude..just seen him tonight fire
"Keep the FUNK rolling" - thats my new catch phrase for 2019
That was after the great Bootsy Collins Bootsy Collins started with him when he was just 19 years old and he said do anything you want but start on the one .It was a great interview with Bootsy Collins talking about his days with playing for the Godfather of Soul
Great video thank you
I love this interview!
Fred Thomas is a great bassist but don't forget that Bootsy Collins is the originator of the bass on Sex Machine
Lee Geoffrey
True. Bootsy and jammed with James another 2-3 more til BC got his gig together (with his brother) and rest was funk history! A la another James Brown production♦♫
my thoughts as well Lee
so so true and the originator of the ONE! P- funk!🎸
@ Lee Geoffrey I first saw Bootsy and his brother Catfish in my home town playing at a night club playing behind Marva Whitney ? She had a hit record Called "It's My Thing" out of King records James Brown's label. The song was a take off the Isley Bros. Hit "It Your Thing". She was a One Hit Wonder. Even then Bootsy was a stand out, looking like a Jimmy Hendrix style personality with a unque sound and style. Looking tall and skinny with sun glasses on stage under the lights. Myself a young musician just starting my trio was the opening act to get the audience dancing and cheering.
Also,talking loud,super bad,soul power.
Great interview!
Legend 4 ever
Freddie's a cool dude for sure
And that's the double truth.
greatest band ever
Excuse me my bad, 33 years behind James Brown, I wanted to correct my mistake because any man that can get FUNKY with JB for so long needs my respect to get the record straight...RIP JAMES BROWN , THE GODFATHER..
I played with Teddy Washington and Robert Berry for 3 yrs. James' trumpet and guitarist. I heard some stories!
Interesting, I can only imagine!!
Legendary
AWESOME!
Nice interview!
i heard a funny story from mike lawler who played with james and the allman bros. he said james kept a small lockbox on his private jet that was very special to him. mike was flying with james once to play at a sporting event. james called for his private box and it turned out to have candy bars in it . sweet,i think he shared some.
Awesome 👍
you know a cats old school when hes playing with his thumb
two words DAVID WESTON who could imitate Bootsy & made lines work some of the fastest tyempi JB ever called - Bodyheat/Look At Them Cakes/Eyesight among Weston's aazing stuff
Bless up 🙏 need to get out there to see at least 1 time
os musicos de james brown sao mostros imcoparaveis
Keep some Steve up in that line. ❤️
GREAT !!!
The bassline for sex machine was created by and originally played by the one and only Bootsy Collins when he was in the band
And he made that bass talk
Thanks for the video.very informing.i thought Fred was a trumpet player.he tore the good foot up MAN!. didn't take no prisoners.
Nah, there was trombonist Fred Wesley, and then this gentleman here.
I believe both of them are mentioned in “Doing it to The Death (Funky Good Time).”
That's cool to hear you
Awesome!! It's very intriguing to hear these stories..
gotta keep that funk rollin.
brilliant bass line in Sex Machine
privilege to watch this, thanks
James browns dancing tricks 🕺🏽 was a big reason all his songs were a hit, no matter the instrument
No it was a combination
I know the guitar player and sax player from those live shots. Played with them in the Alex LoDico Ensemble. Husband and wife, Gabriel and Kaori. She is a monster!
what's up, my Larry! Just seeing all these posts on Fred's video from a while ago. They did a nice piece here on Mr. Thomas.
love it!!
Nice .. the $50 fine is a great story. Any idea what's playing on the screen behind the band from about 2:38 to 2:51? You could say that it caught my attention.
that's something one of the owner's of the bar, Freddy's, put together in his video collages. His name is Donald. ha ha! Yeah, it went well with the music.
damn he doing things without any effort you know these men were extremely talented
Hell yeah
I live his solo at the end of More Peas. Then James Brown ses "Chunk Jab...Jab Chunk" and Jabo comes back in wid the beat. The groove is so laid back and funky and utterly irresistible. Ive been listening to this for over 30 years now. Word of advice though, get a good sound system and avoid mp3's if you can. Just my opinion.
i enjoyed it
That’s deep🧐👍🏿
As a multi-instrumentalist (guitarist at heart), it is hard to sing lead vocals and play bass and lead guitar (not rhythm) at the same time....
$50 per bad note. No way I could afford to play in James Brown's band.
And that’s equivalent to $400 in TODAY’s money... ridiculous smh lol
This is a music masterclass period. Old cats know, the groove is king. These young cats these days ought to learn
Lmao! Good foot bass line was weird but funky as hell to me.
amen
You can hear him gruntin' as he's playing Sex Machine to the interviewer. That's how you phunk it! Lol
1:09 all musicians should take the note. You don’t have to be so technical. Once you have the skill, master the art, the feelin, which is the only thing that matters to people who lack skill (like me) but live for the the feelin. As long as the groove is there...NOTHING ELSE MATTERS to the ear, the portal to the heart and mind.
Bernard odum is the true bass master! Listen to the original cold sweat recording
Always wondered who played bass on Cold Sweat. Funkiest jam I ever heard
Bernard is great! A great period. But come on? One is the true bass master over the other? 😀
Is fred available for hire?
MIND POWER
Yes!!!! Thank you!!!!
Asking his about what he did before JBs in his musical life that brought him there
Friendly Fred!
that's right!
Heaven Yes
What is that in the background flexing a foot while the bass band leads
" Credit" Awareness. Bring THE BaSS..
James brown The Singer & Electric Disco Dancer
MUSICIAN EXCELLENT, SENSATIONAL BASSIST CONGRATULATION. JAMES BROWN EXTRAORDINARY WAS BECAUSE HE HAD EXCELLENT MUSICIANS. TO REMEMBER: GET ON THE GOOD FOOT. SOLO BASS.
James Brown fined his bass player $50.00 for overstepping the last note while Quincy Jones was watching? That's nothing. Mark E. Smith fined a musician 60 Pounds for eating salad.
Back then, those fines were nothing to sneeze at. They were heavy on those musicians pockets.
I had The Distinct pleasure of Sharing the same Stage with This Gentleman in 2015 with Chris Rob at Marcus Garvey Park James Brown tribute Show
"HEY FRED THOMAS"
❤❤❤❤
jehaaaa Mr..Thomas..
FUNK comes natural for the JB's- Fred "Nail thumb"Thomas R.I.P 😊
He s aged well