Bobby Watson Talks Adversity #1
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- Опубликовано: 5 июн 2020
- Talking about bass players like myself who are mostly turned down by companies for endorsements. Having 15 gold and platinum albums and 2 Grammys didn't make any difference to Yamaha, Carvel, or Fodera .. If you are not presenting the right image they look for, you won't get any action ,, No matter how many hit records you have played on ,, So instead of crying about it I made my own Bobby Watson "Tobacco Sunburst Custom Bass" with my name and Logo on the headstock !! Its the best bass I've ever played and is now my main axe for gigs and sessions. Thats how you overcome Adversity ~
Развлечения
I had the honor and pleasure of doing a internship with Chaka Khan record label Earthsong Entertainment. She spoke so highly of you and your musical talent
Bobby is so underrated it’s a shame. Love his story. I’ve heard stories about how some companies are sometimes “shitty” 2wards musicians; even artists. Which is sad! Bobby and John (JR) had that Rufus bottom so tight you can feel it. Even when they had Andre Fisher on drums the bottom was tight! Bobby had “soul” in his playing. Everytime I hear the second part of “Best Of Your Love,” that bass line melts me; so smooth. I hope they’ll do a Rufus/Chaka Khan Reunion tour soon. IT’S A MUST! GOTTA HAPPEN!!!😕🎶❤️👍🏾
Hi Mr Watson, I just turned 70 and I somehow want to learn the bass.
I've been a listen for too long, especially "Do you love what you feel" after 20 times, I know I want this for my closing act, I'll keep admiring you and your craft, keep keeping on 'Bro!
The great Bobby Watson has less than 1000 subs on youtube? What a backward world we live in. SMH!
Working on it, I am enjoying my role as a story teller .. thank you
They’re nuts. I understand that they probably have every bass player and his manager coming at them but I’m shocked to hear this. Even back in the day people talked about “Bobby Watson’s bass playing” with great reverence. You were a standout for the time who epitomized the cool and lean low end dude. You didn’t just mark time. You ARTFULLY framed all else we heard from Rufus, funktastically! I just put on Stop on By after watching this. The simplicity of the bass groove with some subtle jazzy riffs makes Rufus’ version stand up well alongside Mr Womack’s as also legendary.
On the pickups, thanks for the comments. I have a 4-string Ash Fender Deluxe Jazz Bass and had been looking for a 5 string. Musicman Stingray is first choice, but I’d also looked at others with pickups away from the neck that had room for a thump-n-pluck novice like myself. I’ll make sure to be mindful of your comments when I purchase my next. Maybe I’ll look closer at the Squier you talked about in another video.
thnx for those great remarks, you made my day Tadaia !!!
This guy is soulful and solid. I truly appreciate his gift of music.
man o man, this authentic history is eye-opening about the music biz. i am glad to know you!
Mr Watson your bass playing is some of the best still to this day playing all my Rufus music .How are you doing these days and what have you been doing since Rufus 🥰
Bad man cool dude humble and super talented
Bobby Watson is one of my all time favorite bass players. So tasteful and funky.
Hey Bobby ….. When I hung out with you and Tony St James when you guys were working with Epo… in Japan this had to 89…. I just remember your groove and how kind you were…… so keep groovin and thanks for sharing🙏🏾🙏🏾
So glad this came up in my feed. Bobby's groove on "Rock With You' was a masterful piece of playing. Thank you for all your great work.
Thnx Ebert ~
BW has always been one of my fav bassists. He killed it on Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You”
Damn..... I always thought it was Louis Johnson.........my mind has been blown! Incredible job BW!!!!!
....And Off The Wall.🎶👍🏾
Yep people don't know this Cat is a BEAST!
@@moed740 Yep! You’re right!🤨👍🏾
That song made me start playing bass.
I've just been listening to some MJ. I wanted to seek you out. You are a total legend dude. No way have you had enough of the credit and respect that you deserve.
You are and will always be a huge influence to bass players,thank you 🙏
I appreciate it Omar ...
I've always loved your playing bro! It still sounds so good when I put on a vinyl album and listen to those arrangements. "GET IN THE GROOVE"
Wow I'm never buying anything else by yamaha. So happy to see and hear you Bobby I LOVE RUFUS!!! Still listening to Rags to Rufus and Street Player on CD. I saw you at tht Greek Theater years ago , I don't remember who you were playing with but I said he moves like Bobby Watson and I was right. I know your moves anywhere! Lol💝💝😍😍😅
Wow, thank you Linda Petty, I have some good moves huh !!!
I’ve always been a big fan of the group Rufus and your bass playing. I’m so glad I found your channel about a week ago. Thank you so much for what you do. 🤘🏽🙏🏽
Thomas, thanks so much man, I'm so glad you found me, I just am wanting to share little inside stories about Rufus to our fans and all the comments validate that they appreciate hearing this stuff ... Thank you So Much, I'm gonna be doing more soon, stand by !!
Interesting to Hear this story.
You and Larry Graham are Big Reasons
I had a Custom Moon Bass made for Me.
Wow! Just like expected, great stories from a great man and musician. More road stories please!
Thanks for the story and all the great music over the years. You're one of my top favorite bassist!!
BW, you've alqays been a favorite bass player of mine, your signature groove with Rufus and with Bridgette McWilliams...... smooth and funky!
Keep plucking bruh!
You are one of my Favorite bassist EVER!!!
Love this conversation. Sincerely appreciate your contribution to music in general (NOT to be underestimated!), and to bass playing specifically! SALUTE!
*EDIT: Sir, I have to say that I am AMAZED that Fender has not elected to create a signature bass in your name, based on your specs. Listening to you speak about your bass, your understanding of the instrument in general, the sound that you were searching to create, and the process you went through to create your sound/bass, I would buy one "sight unseen". I am almost to the point of actually being DISAPPOINTED in Fender, particularly when you consider the place they've held in popular music, and soul/funk (Black American) music specifically. Regardless, I honor you!
Thank you so much Rod !! I appreciate you !!
We meet briefly in 1973. You and Tony were playing in a band called "High Energy"( I think that was the name), in Cambridge, Mass. My friend and I were blown away. We spoke to the two of you after the show,and you shared some knowledge with us, especially about using your whole right hand (thumb ,plucking, etc.) You guys made a hell of an impression on us as we were just out of high school. I never forgot your kindness. I just want to say thank you. You can hear me trying on a one-hit-wonder band from the '90s called Charles and Eddie on a song called "would I lie to you". Couldnt even get a string endorsement. If I had known they were doing that, I would have never even asked. Im so glad to have found this vid. My name is Jeff Anderson. once again thank so much.
Wow take me back brother !! We were baby boys then, good to hear from you on this post Jeff, I'm gonna go listen to you play ~
Excellent story
As a bass player myself, I always thought that Bobby Watson had a real unique sound'
It was fat and solid, but not overwhelming. And the funk he played was just outrageous!
Check out the song 'Dance Wit Me'. He may not have the flash and dash of other bassist but, damn was he solid!!
Awwwww, thanks so much for the compliment ,,, I appreciate you and love the name sosmooth ~
Crazy story thanks for sharing. Can't imagine a company treating a legend that way
Thanks for this insight. It's something to hear that someone so influential for so long would get passed up for endorsements, when I see players I've never heard of with them. And, I never thought much about pickup position relative to the neck/fretboard. Closest to the neck I have/use are Squier Jazzes, so I guess there was never much reason for it to occur to me.
Also, thanks for checking out my channel...I was humbled and FLOORED to see you had. I just knew it had to be a namesake or a poser, until I came and checked out your videos. And thanks for every track you've given your touch to over the decades.
yeah man, sometimes getting turned down can lead you to make other moves, years of gigs and recording has shown me what kind of tone and response I need to get it done, I feel great having a bass guitar thats my own creation, that is delivering the Groove !!!!!! p.s. love your bass picking on the "Stay Cover"
Speaking of tone, that “bonking” bass AND TECHNIQUE was everything, even live.
I’m pretty sure I heard it live on film like on the Mike Douglas show. Wow! Just Wow!🤯!
The song was Everybodys Got an Aura.👍🏾💪🏾🙌🏾👍🏾
The sound on “Circles” and “Aura”
Wow, take me back Beau ! Love both those tracks
Hey, Bobby. You probably don't remember it's been awhile. You played my Modulus bass down in Harvell's in Santa Monica. My good friend CC said " Hey Vince, can Bobby play your Bass, I was like uh, they great Bobby Watson, of course" I grew up listening to Rufus and Chaka Khan. It was an honor that you played my bass. Stupid me I don't have that bass anymore...SMH.
By the way I was working with an artist named Misato Watanabe….. I had Fender 73 Jazz with a Sadowsky preamp and I got and endorsement from Moon…..I’m quite sure you know Fumi…… I had a red 4 string with Bartolini pick ups….. great times!!
Fumi Nozawa, with the clef lip, Totally awesome guy !!! He was always on the player's side ~
Hey Bobby, did you know Billy McPherson the sax player in High Voltage? We played in Atlanta together. He was one crazy cat. Sadly he passed on at 63. Loved Rufus especially the bass lines.
Wow Andy, did not know that. Last I heard he was in the Seattle area and had made a lot of money with his invention of some kind of legal way to grow Pot .. Sorry to hear this news
@@myvidworld1 Bobby, he got busted selling mushrooms on the internet. Not too street smart my boy was. Turns out he had hepatitis C and never knew it. He went into a coma and never came out. They say he passed with a peaceful look on his face. He followed the most rigid diet humanly possible. There's a video or two ( one in Seattle ) of him playing his ass off. Also him with Paul McCandless and the great Karl Ratzer. Thanks for responding. All the best!
Bobby your the best! I have pictures of us in club Mugen in Tokyo Japan. 1984.
Whaaaaa! We were baby boys back then !!
Have you ever played a NYC Sadowsky? I own a 5 string NYC Sadowsky. It's my favorite. I also like my Custom 4 string Jazz bass I built. I fitted it with Nordstrand pickups a Noll preamp. I like a P Bass for certain syles. I built my Precision bass 42 years ago. It's passive with Dimarzio pickups and a maple neck, with a swamp ash body.
Man that is the way to go, find all your favorite bass parts and put em together !!
Rufus and Chaka Khan ya'll got to get back together and do a tour... I've been a fan since 74.. tell me something good!
Tour coming up in 2024' we're talking now !!!
@@myvidworld1 this is good to hear I've been waiting on this concert for many years.
My husband had a fender, actually two, I think because of Jimi Hendrix😀
Good Influence ,, Jimi is Legendary
Mr. Watson, it sounds like you are still a P-bass guy at heart.
Sad, I love Yamaha basses
Mr Watson, have you ever thought of connecting with an independent American Luthier and sitting with him giving him your personal ideas, something unique to you, and endorsing him, and bring that bass creation to the world, exposing him and you.
Yesssssssss ! I am gonna be doing a Rufus Chaka tour 2024' and that will be when I show everybody my Rufus "MuMu" custom Bobby Watson Bass !!
What Is your perspective on 5 and 6 string basses, are they really necessary.
Shawn, if you fall in love with an instrument I think it doesn't matter the string count ~ that tone is the catalyst
Wish you would have contacted ZON basses.
Wow !!! I played a Zon bass in Japan , one of the companies I was endorsing (I think Moon Basses) gave me one .. I Loved it ,they sounded great .. Is the company still in business ? they gave me a 5 string with some kind of super hard neck that sounded great I Loved it !! Did a lot of recording with it ~ Thanks Joe
Great guy, wish I could ask him how Rene Moore is doing?
Rene cut us all off, so nothing to report Ray, I miss my little buddy
@@myvidworld1 Thank you a million times Bobby. Glad I have you and Rene's great music to appreciate both's great talents. You are a gift to us 🙏
@@raydanielz9408 man, I miss Rene, I talk w Angela Winbush regularly but not my little brother ....
Did you ever try out the Sire bass? They are badd!
yes, good tone but short on power .. also all those squire basses are missing some technical things I require, like the pickup placement which gives you a different low end response !
Would you be kind enough to tell us the name of the song that played at the beginning of the video?
A recording I played on for my friend "Tony St James" drummer for Les McCann
@@myvidworld1 thank you so much
I, like many here, have been listening to you with Rufus since "Tell Me Somethin' Good" and cats like you, Verdine White, Paul Jackson or other low end funk players probably shaped my sensibilities as far my own bass groove for whatever style within the funk, rock, blues, and sometimes jazz-ish context. That Yamaha endorsement story is beyond offensive, if nothing else. I mean..., just having been a part of Rufus alone should have been a no brainer for them or any company. The irony is, there are companies that make basses that don't seem to understand what the bass is actually suppose to do. If you do a poor or even great imitation of Jaco Pastorius (whom I also really dig) and happen to be playing with some fairly known artist with a little jazz vibe or actual fusion, then.., those companies seem to go out of their way to give endorsements to those types of bassists that play way up the neck seemingly never below the 12 fret during solos (of which I am also guilty).., so, there are a ton of people that work and rep for guitar companies that feature their high end bass brand who don't seem to actually like to play the bass.
Wow, man I love how you see this reality and I believe it ,,,, having said that, I still believe that at some point all the rejection should lead us guys to go out looking for pieces to put a custom instrument together ,, I just built a "Fat sounding Custom P bass" for under around $900 bucks and I am in Love with this instrument ,, I found a body made from Poplar wood, I had always used "Ash" ,, man this bass is kicking !!
@@myvidworld1 That's exactly the kind of bass I have (in terms of how I feel about my bass) and, I would like to attain another one! I definitely need a true P Bass, but I bought this Pensa-Suhr Jazz Bass back around 1990 for about $1400 just have a high quality instrument that I didn't have to tweak very much or worry about that wasn't a Ken Smith or those type of Jazz Fusion sounding basses, also, I think John Suhr was parting or had parted ways with Rudy Pensa of Rudy's Music when I purchased it because the name of Rudy's basses and guitars were changed to just "Pensa" and his instruments are truly great but I think mine still sounds better. I decided to buy that bass after the recording before the "Spinal Tap" type drama started to kick in, which it eventually, unfortunately, and ultimately did. It's still my only and main bass. It was just sitting out there on the floor of the store and looked so cool, then I played it for 10-15 minutes and bought on the spot with some of that advance money ('cause you know). When I first got it, I did have to get used to the active electronics but I was playing mostly rock and alternative rock and learned to control it. My band back then, Maggie's Dream, was signed to Capitol Records and the album was released in 1990. I used some Fender Precision or Jazz bass that was just there in the studio (Power Station) for most of the tracks, a red Spector that was transferred from the 8 track demo to one album track which wasn't perfect but I dug the vibe of that bass performance and though the sound was perfect with all its imperfections, this Fodera on one track, and this custom no name fretless I borrowed from a friend (Erik Sanko) that I used on the first few minutes of the last track entitled, "Fly", that was insane because there were no markings and I never really played fretless. Maggie's Dream's music was heavily based on much of that early mid 1970s funk or overall 70s vibe, at least from how I was thinking and still think. Even in most rock situations..., I'm always thinking "Verdine", cats like yourself and all of the obvious heavy funk players of that era and a little before. A few years ago, I was in the studio and played this old Fender Precision (maybe before '74) through an old Ampeg B-15 flip top through an old Neve console and there was very little difference in sound between the 2 basses, especially with my bridge pickup turned off, but my bass plays so easily that it wouldn't have made sense to use the Fender and struggle if my bass was right there; my bass is like driving a smooth automatic vintage Ferrari. Still, I do need or would like to acquire a more traditional old school non active Fender P or J Bass, or even an older Gibson. Having stated all of that, my bass is about 33 years old now, which I think almost qualifies as "vintage", especially hearing it right after that vintage Fender Bass a few years ago. I mean, if it ain't broke, etc. Much respect and thanks so much for replying back! Always loved your "real" playing, it is huge part of the soundtrack of my life from that era. You deserved much, much better, but are still a true legend, nonetheless. Dey gon' learn! Peace!
Mr, wattson, you were looking for endorsements, have you tried reverend
No Michael, let me look em up! But I am really happy w my home made axe !! So I may be done endorsing at this point ...
Even Abe Laboriel said Yamaha didn't want to give him a bass.
Unbelievable !!!
@@myvidworld1 I'm sure they sponsor him now. I can't find the interview now where he said that. I think Reggie Young took it down. I'm going to find it though! lol.
Their loss.
I found the interview. It's unlisted. He starts talking about Yamaha about 1:14:43. ruclips.net/video/0ESjDRJYMvk/видео.html
@@joffyjazz alright gonna check it out !!!!