Bob Babbitt


Robert Andrew Kreinar, known as Bob Babbitt, was an American bassist, most famous for his work as a member of Motown Records' studio band, the Funk Brothers, from 1966 to 1972, as well as his tenure as part of MFSB for Philadelphia International Records afterwards. Also in 1968, with Mike Campbell, Ray Monette and Andrew Smith, he formed the band Scorpion, which lasted until 1970. He is ranked number 59 on Bass Player magazine's list of "The 100 Greatest Bass Players of All Time".

Biography

At Motown, Babbitt traded off sessions with original Motown bassist James Jamerson. When Motown moved to Los Angeles, Babbitt went in the opposite direction and ended up in New York as well as making occasional trips to Philadelphia. In this new city, he worked on recordings for Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow, Gloria Gaynor, Robert Palmer, and Alice Cooper. During this time, his most notable successes were "Midnight Train to Georgia" by Gladys Knight & the Pips and "The Rubberband Man" by the Spinners.
The Pittsburgh-born Babbitt's most notable bass performances include "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 " and "Inner City Blues" by Marvin Gaye; "Band of Gold" by Freda Payne; "Ball of Confusion ", "Just My Imagination " and "Masterpiece" by the Temptations; "Scorpio" by Dennis Coffey; and "Just Don't Want to Be Lonely" by The Main Ingredient.
He participated in hundreds of other hits, including "Little Town Flirt" by Del Shannon and "Scorpio" by Dennis Coffey & the Detroit Guitar Band. He played on the Jimi Hendrix album Crash Landing. He also played bass on Cindy Bullens' 1979 album Desire Wire. He accepted an offer from Phil Collins to perform on his album of Motown and 1960s soul classics, Going Back, and also appeared in Collins' Going Back – Live at Roseland Ballroom, NYC concert DVD. He appeared on stage in 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.

In 2003, Babbitt played on Marion James' album Essence, and amongst others playing on the record were Beegie Adair, Reese Wynans, Jack Pearson, and drummer Chucki Burke.
He was added to the Music City Walk of Fame in June 2012.
Babbitt died on July 16, 2012, aged 74, from brain cancer.

Discography

With Frank Black
  • Fast Man Raider Man
With Blue Magic
With Dee Dee Bridgewater
  • Dee Dee Bridgewater
With Carlene Carter
With Joe Cocker
  • Hymn for My Soul
With Phil Collins
  • Going Back
With Lou Courtney
  • I'm In Need of Love
With Tim Curry
  • Read My Lips
  • Fearless
With Peter Frampton
With Marvin Gaye
With Gloria Gaynor
  • Never Can Say Goodbye
  • Experience Gloria Gaynor
  • I've Got You
With Major Harris
  • My Way
With Richie Havens
  • Connections
With Cissy Houston
  • Cissy Houston
With Phyllis Hyman
  • Somewhere in My Lifetime
  • Goddess of Love
With Sass Jordan
With Margie Joseph
  • Sweet Surrender
  • Margie
With Eric Kaz
  • Cul-De-Sac
With Ben E. King
  • Supernatural
With Gladys Knight
  • Miss Gladys Knight
With Nils Lofgren
  • Nils
With Taj Mahal
  • Evolution
With Barry Manilow
  • Barry Manilow
  • Even Now
With Herbie Mann
  • Surprises
With Moon Martin
  • Mystery Ticket
With Kathy McCord
  • Baby Come Out Tonight
With Jimmy McGriff
  • Red Beans
With Stephanie Mills
  • Movin' in the Right Direction
With Jackie Moore
  • Sweet Charlie Babe
With Tracy Nelson
  • Sweet Soul Music
With Kenny Nolan
  • A Song Between Us
With Laura Nyro
  • Smile
With The O'Jays
With Yoko Ono
  • Feeling the Space
With Tony Orlando and Dawn
  • To Be With You
With Robert Palmer
  • Double Fun
  • Don't Explain
With Teddy Pendergrass
  • Teddy
  • This One's for You
With Roxanne Potvin
  • The Way It Feels
With Bonnie Raitt
  • Streetlights
With Lou Rawls
  • Now Is the Time
With Irene Reid
  • Two of Us
With Vicki Sue Robinson
  • Vicki Sue Robinson
With Rodriguez
  • Cold Fact
With Jimmy Ruffin
  • Jimmy Ruffin
With Tom Rush
  • Ladies Love Outlaws
With Harvey Scales
  • Confidential Affair
With Helen Schneider
With Marlena Shaw
With Sister Sledge
  • Circle of Love
With Lonnie Smith
  • Keep on Lovin
With The Spinners
  • New and Improved
  • Pick of the Litter
  • Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow
  • 8''
  • From Here to Eternally
With Rod Stewart
  • Soulbook
With The Temptations
  • Puzzle People
  • Psychedelic Shack
  • Sky's the Limit
  • All Directions
  • Masterpiece
  • The Temptations
With Stanley Turrentine
  • The Man with the Sad Face
With Frankie Valli
  • Our Day Will Come
  • Lady Put the Light Out
With Dionne Warwick
  • Then Came You
With Deniece Williams'
  • My Melody
  • Niecy''