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Rainey III, Charles Walter “Chuck” (17th June 1940-Present)

He is a musician born in Cleveland, Ohio and is the most recorded bass player in the history of recorded music.

While at school he learned how to play the violin, trumpet, and piano and then while attending Lane College in Tennessee he learnt the baritone horn and joined the school’s brass ensemble.  He learned the rhythm guitar when he was a recruit in the army.

As a member of The King Curtis All Stars, the Beatles Second US Tour took him to Los Angeles.  He toured with Jackie Wilson, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke, to name a few and was also a member of The Archies TV cartoon group.

He is possibly best known for his work with Steely Dan but he left them after running into problems that included the credit for his bass lines apparently being claimed by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker.  When he published a bass line he wrote for the Steely Dan song “Peg” in Bass Player Magazine, Hal Leonard claimed the rights and demanded payment.

He has received 17 platinum and gold records and has two Life Time Achievement awards.  His bass lines are now documented as being the backbone of Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, The Jackson 5, The Rascals and Steely Dan’s original hit recordings the year they were inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The Archies recordings
Bang Shang-A-Lang (Jeff Barry)
Truck Driver (Jeff Barry)

Sources:

  1. http://www.chuckrainey.com
  2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Rainey