Top 10 Bass Players Who Shaped the Sound of Modern Music

Bass players, often regarded as the backbone of a band, play an important role in shaping a song’s rhythm and groove. Over the years, many iconic bassists have reshaped the instrument’s role in music, influencing genres ranging from jazz and rock to funk and metal. These musicians laid down the rhythmic foundation and pioneered innovative techniques and styles, elevating the bass to the forefront of the musical landscape.

This comprehensive guide explores the groundbreaking works, careers, and accomplishments of some of the best bass players, shedding light on their transformative impact on the music industry.

List of Best Bass Players

1: James Jamerson

Date of Birth: January 29, 1936, Edisto Island, South Carolina, U.S.

Date of Death: August 2, 1983, Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Best Works:

• You Can’t Hurry Love
• My Girl
• Shotgun
• For Once in My Life
• I Was Made to Love Her

Accolades:

• Anointed Spirit Award
• Independent Tone Award
• Hollywood Guitar Center’s Rock Walk
• Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

James Jamerson is a legendary American bassist. From a young age, Jamerson demonstrated his musical talent, excelling on the piano and briefly playing the trombone, which expanded his musical style and enriched his approach to bass playing.

He started his musical career in the vibrant blues and jazz clubs, drawing inspiration from jazz bassists like Ray Brown, Paul Chambers, and Percy Heath.

In 1959, Jamerson landed a steady gig at Berry Gordy’s Hitsville U.S.A. studio, the heart of the Motown record label. During his time there, he played on iconic tracks like Smokey Robinson’s Way Over There (1959), John Lee Hooker’s Burnin’ (1962), and the hit song (Just Like) Romeo and Juliet by Reflections.

As a session musician, Jamerson’s influence was undeniable. His work contributed to twenty-three Billboard Hot 100 number-one hits and fifty-six R&B number-one hits, cementing his legacy as one of the best bass players in history.

2: Charles Mingus

Date of Birth: April 22, 1922, Nogales, Arizona, U.S.

Date of Death: January 5, 1979, Cuernavaca, Mexico

Best Works:

• Hora Decubitus
• I X Love
• Pithecanthropus Erectus
• Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
• Track C: Group Dancers

Accolades:

• Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

Charles Mingus was a renowned jazz composer, bassist, bandleader, and pianist, widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians and composers in jazz history. He began playing the bass at age 16 and studied music in Los Angeles, honing his technique through five years of training with a symphonic musician.

Mingus first gained recognition through his professional work with former clarinettist Barney Bigard. From 1947 to 1948, he wrote and performed with Lionel Hampton’s big band and recorded with Red Norvo. In the 1950s, he took a major step forward by founding his own record label and the Jazz Composer’s Workshop, a space for his groundbreaking musical ideas.

3: John Entwistle

Date of Birth: October 9, 1944, Hammersmith, London, England

Date of Death: June 27, 2002, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.

Best Works:

• Heaven and Hell
• Success Story
• Cell Number 7
• Too Late the Hero

John Entwistle, the legendary bass guitarist of The Who (rock band), embarked on his musical journey at the age of seven. Throughout his four-decade tenure with the band, Entwistle—nicknamed “The Ox” and “Thunderfingers”—stood out as the only member with formal musical training. His contributions included not only solid backing vocals but also occasional lead vocals, showcasing his versatility.

In 1971, Entwistle became the first member of The Who (rock band) to release a solo studio album, Smash Your Head Against the Wall. The album gained a cult following in the U.S. thanks to its dark humor and Entwistle’s exceptional musicality.

He revolutionized the bass guitar by incorporating pentatonic lead lines and a distinctive, treble-rich sound, establishing himself as one of rock’s most influential bassists. In 2020, Rolling Stone recognized his legacy, ranking Entwistle as number three on their list of the 50 Greatest Bassists of All Time.

4: Bootsy Collins

Date of Birth: October 26, 1951, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.

Best Works:

• Bootzilla
• I’d Rather Be With You
• Take a Lickin’ and Keep on Kickin’
• The Pinocchio Theory
• The Power of the One

Accolades:

• Grammy Awards
• MOBO Awards

Bootsy Collins, an iconic American bass guitarist, singer, and songwriter, began his career with James Brown’s backup band, the J.B. ‘s, from 1969 to 1971. He later joined George Clinton’s Parliament-Funkadelic, where he became a key innovator in funk music with his powerful basslines and playful vocals.

Collins went on to form his own P-Funk side project, Bootsy’s Rubber Band, and released Bootsy? Player of the Year in 1978, an album that soared to the top of the R&B charts. Beyond funk, he has collaborated with artists across various genres, contributing to dance music with Deee-Lite’s Groove Is in the Heart.

In 2020, Rolling Stone ranked Collins fourth on their list of the 50 Greatest Bassists of All Time, cementing his legacy as one of the best bass players in music history.

5: Carol Kaye

Date of Birth: March 24, 1935, Everett, Washington, U.S.

Best Works:

• Joe Cocker – Feelin’ Alright
• The Beach Boys – Good Vibrations
• Glen Campbell – Wichita Lineman
• Ray Charles – In the Heat of the Night
• Barbra Streisand – The Way We Were

Carol Kaye began playing guitar in her teens and quickly became a prominent figure in the Los Angeles jazz and big band scenes. In 1957, she transitioned into session work, and through a connection at Gold Star Studios, she began collaborating with renowned producer Phil Spector. Her contributions included playing electric guitar on hits like Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans‘ Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah and The Crystals’ Then He Kissed Me.

Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Kaye continued to establish herself as a versatile session musician, delivering countless hit songs. Over her remarkable six-decade career, Kaye played on an estimated 10,000 recordings, earning her a reputation as one of the most prolific bass guitarists in rock and pop music.

6: Jack Bruce

Date of Birth: May 14, 1943, Bishopbriggs, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Date of Death: October 25, 2014, Sudbury, Suffolk, England

Best Woks:

• White Room by Cream
• There Comes a Time by Spectrum Road
• HCKHH Blues
• Never Tell Your Mother She’s Out of Tune

Accolades:

• Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

Jack Bruce, a Scottish musician, began playing jazz bass in his teens before rising to fame as the bassist and lead vocalist of the legendary rock band Cream. His unique fusion of blues, jazz, and rock profoundly influenced the music industry, establishing him as a prominent figure in the musical world.

Bruce’s first commercial success came in 1966 as a member of Manfred Mann, with the hit Pretty Flamingo, which topped the UK singles chart. He released his first solo album in 1969, Songs for a Tailor, which reached number six on the UK Albums Chart.

Throughout his illustrious career, Bruce explored a wide range of genres, including hard rock, jazz, blues, R&B, fusion, avant-garde, world music, and third-stream classical, solidifying his place as one of the most accomplished bass players in music history.

7: Larry Graham

Date of Birth: August 14, 1946, Beaumont, Texas, U.S.

Best Works:

• One in a Million You
• When We Get Married
• Guess Who
• Just Be My Lady
• I Never Forget Your Eyes

Larry Graham is an American bassist, baritone singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for his work as the bass guitarist in the soul/funk band Sly & the Family Stone and as the frontman of Graham Central Station.

Solidifying his place among the best bass players, Graham is credited with revolutionizing bass playing with his signature slapping technique, which dramatically expanded the instrument’s tonal range and influenced countless musicians.

In the early 1980s, he released five solo albums, achieving several R&B chart hits. His breakout single, One in a Million You (1980), became a crossover success, reaching number nine on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 1993, Graham was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Sly & the Family Stone, cementing his legacy as one of the most innovative and influential bass players in music history.

8: Jaco Pastorius

Date of Birth: December 1, 1951, Norristown, Pennsylvania, U.S.

Date of Death: September 21, 1987, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.

Best Works:

• Soul Intro / The Chicken
• Donna Lee
• Teen Town by Weather Report
• Coyote by Joni Mitchell
• Punk Jazz by Weather Report

Accolades:

• Grammy Award

Jaco Pastorius is recognized as one of the greatest bass players, renowned for his funk-influenced style that combined fretless bass, lyrical solos, bass chords, and groundbreaking harmonics. From 1976 to 1981, he recorded as a solo artist, bandleader, and as a member of the influential jazz fusion group Weather Report.

Pastorius made his debut with Weather Report in 1976, contributing to their album Black Market, which launched his successful career. He also appeared on various artists’ albums, including Ian Hunter of Mott the Hoople, and famously recorded a solo on the title track of Hunter’s All American Alien Boy in 1976.

In 2017, Pastorius was inducted into the DownBeat Jazz Hall of Fame, joining an elite group of bassists known for their electric bass work. His innovations and musical legacy have solidified his place among the greatest bassists of all time.

9: Paul McCartney

Date of Birth: June 18, 1942, Liverpool, England

Best Works:

• Come Together
• Something
• Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
• Penny Lane
• A Day in the Life

Accolades:

• American Music Awards
• Academy Awards
• Emmy Awards
• Brit Awards
• Grammy Awards
• MTV Europe Awards

Paul McCartney, an English singer, musician, and songwriter, rose to international stardom as a member of The Beatles. As the band’s bassist and pianist, McCartney shared primary songwriting.

Known for his melodic technique in bass playing, he has explored a wide array of genres, from classical and ballads to electronica and pre-rock and roll pop.

In 1957, McCartney joined John Lennon’s skiffle group, the Quarrymen, which afterwards evolved into The Beatles in 1960. After the band’s breakup, he launched his solo career with the 1970 album McCartney. Throughout his career, McCartney has written and co-written 32 songs that outperformed the Billboard Hot 100 and, as of 2009, sold 25.5 million RIAA-certified units in the U.S.

With his versatile tenor vocal range and exceptional songwriting ability, McCartney has cemented his place as one of the most successful composers and performers in music history.

10: Ron Carter

Date of Birth: May 4, 1937, Ferndale, Michigan, U.S.

Best Works:

• Rally
• Softly as in a Morning Sunrise
• Where?
• Saucer Eyes
• Bass Duet

Accolades:

• Grammy Awards

Ron Carter is a distinguished American jazz double bassist who began playing the cello at the age of 10.

In 1960, Carter made his first record appearance on Eric Dolphy’s Out There, which featured advanced harmonies and concepts that aligned with the third-stream movement.

With a solo career spanning over 60 years, Carter is best known for his work on numerous iconic Blue Note albums in the 1960s and as the bassist in Miles Davis’s Second Great Quintet from 1963 to 1968.

Throughout his prolific career, Carter appeared in 2,221 recording sessions, making him one of the most-recorded jazz bassists of all time, which further made him one of the best bass players.