Bob Babbitt

Bob Babbitt
Robert Andrew Kreinar (November 26, 1937 – July 16, 2012), known as Bob Babbitt, was a Hungarian-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".
Babbitt traded off sessions with original Motown bassist James Jamerson. When Motown moved to Los Angeles, Babbit 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 (The Ecology)" and "Inner City Blues" by Marvin Gaye; "Band Of Gold" by Freda Payne; "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" and "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" by The Temptations; "Touch Me in the Morning" by Diana Ross; 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, on Soulfood Records, and amongst others playing on the record were Beegie Adair, Reese Wynans, Jack Pearson (The Allman Brothers), and drummer Chucki Burke.
He was added to the Music City Walk of Fame on June 5, 2012.
Bob Babbitt died on July 16, 2012, aged 74, from brain cancer.
Discography
With Frank Black
Fast Man Raider Man (Cooking Vinyl, 2006)
With Dee Dee Bridgewater
Dee Dee Bridgewater (Elektra, 1980)
With Carlene Carter
Two Sides to Every Woman (Warner Bros., 1979)
With Joe Cocker
Hymn for My Soul (EMI, 2007)
With Phil Collins
Going Back (Atlantic, 2010)
With Peter Frampton
Thank You Mr. Churchill (New Door Records, 2010)
With Marvin Gaye
What's Going On (Motown Records, 1971)
With Gloria Gaynor
Never Can Say Goodbye (MGM, 1975)
Experience Gloria Gaynor (MGM, 1975)
I've Got You (Polydor, 1976)
With Major Harris
My Way (Atlantic Records, 1974)
With Richie Havens
Connections (Elektra, 1980)
With Cissy Houston
Cissy Houston (Private Stock Records, 1977)
With Sass Jordan
Get What You Give (Universal Music, 2006)
With Margie Joseph
Sweet Surrender (Atlantic, 1974)
Margie (Atlantic, 1975)
With Ben E. King
Supernatural (Atlantic, 1975)
With Nils Lofgren
Nils (A&M, 1979)
With Taj Mahal
Evolution (The Most Recent) (Warner Bros., 1978)
With Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow (Bell, 1973)
Even Now (Arista, 1978)
With Herbie Mann
Surprises (Atlantic, 1976)
With Kathy McCord
Baby Come Out Tonight (Manhattan, 1979)
With Jimmy McGriff
Red Beans (Groove Merchant, 1976)
With Kenny Nolan
A Song Between Us (Polydor, 1978)
With Laura Nyro
Smile (Columbia, 1976)
With Yoko Ono
Feeling the Space (Apple Records, 1973)
With Robert Palmer
Double Fun (Island, 1978)
Don't Explain (EMI, 1990)
With Teddy Pendergrass
Teddy (Philadelphia, 1979)
This One's for You (Philadelphia, 1982)
With Bonnie Raitt
Streetlights (Warner Bros. Records, 1974)
With Irene Reid
Two of Us (Glades, 1976)
With Vicki Sue Robinson
Vicki Sue Robinson (RCA Victor, 1976)
With Rodriguez
Cold Fact (Sussex, 1970)
With Jimmy Ruffin
Jimmy Ruffin (Polydor, 1973)
With Tom Rush
Ladies Love Outlaws (CBS, 1974)
With Helen Schneider
Let It Be Now (RCA Records, 1978)
With Marlena Shaw
Just a Matter of Time (Blue Note, 1976)
With Sister Sledge
Circle of Love (Atco, 1975)
With Lonnie Smith
Keep on Lovin' (Groove Merchant, 1976)
With Rod Stewart
Soulbook (J Records, 2009)
With Stanley Turrentine
The Man with the Sad Face (Fantasy, 1976)
With Frankie Valli
Our Day Will Come (Private, 1975)
Lady Put the Light Out (Private, 1977)
With Dionne Warwick
Then Came You (Warner Bros., 1975)
With Deniece Williams
My Melody (Columbia, 1981)
Niecy (Columbia, 1982)
References
Sources
External links
Official website
Bob Babbit Profile -Pittsburgh Music History
Interview with Bob Babbitt Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, by Bass Frontiers Magazine, 2010
1937 births
2012 deaths
American rhythm and blues bass guitarists
American male bass guitarists
American session musicians
American funk bass guitarists
Musicians from Pittsburgh
The Funk Brothers members
Deaths from brain cancer in the United States
American people of Hungarian descent
Guitarists from Pennsylvania
20th-century American bass guitarists
20th-century American male musicians
Motown artists
MFSB members
The Group with No Name members