James Jamerson Jr. (born James L. Jamerson III; August 24, 1957 – March 23, 2016) was an American bass player and noted studio musician. During his over three-decades long career he recorded with Bob Dylan, Tavares, The Temptations, and many more.

Life and career

Jamerson Jr. was born in Detroit to legendary session bass player James Jamerson, a cornerstone member of Motown's famed house band known as The Funk Brothers.

In the early 1970s, Jamerson, Jr. became an in-demand session bassist. In the next three decades he played on the studio albums by Janet Jackson, Smokey Robinson, and Aretha Franklin, to name a few.

In the late 1970s, he formed a studio disco group, Chanson, along with guitarist David Williams. Their only charted single, "Don't Hold Back" reached No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979 and No. 18 in Canada.

Jamerson died in Detroit on March 23, 2016, at age 58. He had suffered for years with ankylosing spondylitis.

Selected discography

With Tavares

With Sylvester

With High Inergy

With The Crusaders with B.B. King and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

With Janet Jackson

With DeBarge

With Smokey Robinson

With Teena Marie

With The Temptations

With Philip Bailey

With Bob Dylan

With Aretha Franklin

With Wayne Kramer

External links