Carol Kaye session musician

[john]

I first learned of Carol Kaye watching videos of the Brian Wilson working with a group of studio musicians known as the Wrecking Crew in making Pet Sounds. Although she started as a guitar player, she went on to become known as the premiere studio electric bass player (it was originally known as the Fender bass and she may have been the person who popularized calling it "electric" bass).

...the most-recorded bassist in history, with upwards of 10,000 sessions to her credit....

If you have listened to the radio or watched TV since 1958, you've heard Carol Kaye play.

Carol was one of the core group of anonymous studio musicians who lent her unique styles of studio Guitar and Electric Bass playing to many of the hits recorded by such popular artists like the Beach Boys, Ray Charles, TheRighteous Bros., Johnny Mathis, Nancy Sinatra, Sam Cooke, Glen Campbell, Lou Rawls, Jan & Dean, Henry Mancini, The Lettermen, Paul Revere & Raiders, Monkees, Buckinghams, April & Nino,Sonny & Cher, Chris Montez, Andy Williams, Quincy Jones, Joe Cocker, Ike &Tina Turner, Mel Torme, Bobby Darin, Frank Zappa, Wayne Newton, Herb Alpert, O.C. Smith, Don Ho, Al Martino, and a few Motown (LA).

Carol Kaye was born in Everett, Washington to musician parents, Clyde and Dot Smith, both professionals. She has played and taught guitar professionally since 1949, played bebop jazz guitar in dozens of nightclubs around Los Angeles with top groups (also in Bob Neal's jazz group with Jack Sheldon backing Lenny Bruce, with Teddy Edwards, Billy Higgins etc.), accidentally got into studio work late 1957 with the Sam Cooke recordings and other big recordings on guitar for the 1st 5 years of studio work in Hollywood.

In 1963 when a Fender bassist didn't show up for a record date at Capitol Records, she picked up the Fender bass (as it was called then) and augmented her busy schedule playing bass and grew quickly to be the no. 1 call with record companies, movie & TV film people, commericals (ads), and industrial films.

Carol realized some of the potential in the electric bass when she modified the bass line in The Beat Goes On and transformed a "nothing song into a hit."

Arthur Uvaas
Backed by the famous session musicians known as the: WRECKING CREW, this Sonny & Cher classic never gets old...Can you dig it?

Art Donovan
Yes, Indeed, Arthur. Carol Kaye, the studio bassist legend, created that actual bass line for the song in the studio. GENIUS! 

Carol played bass on these recordings, among others:

Whipped Cream - Herb Alpert
Spanish Eyes - Al Martino
Good Vibrations, Help Me Rhonda, Sloop John B, I Get Around, Wouldn't It Be Nice (dano), Calif. Girls, God Only Knows, Pet Sounds lp, Heroes & Villains, Caroline No, Surf's Up, Child Is The Father Of The Man, Do You Like Worms?, Smile lp, Cabinessence, Fire sessions, I Was Made To Love Her, Let Him Run Wild - Beach Boys
Little Green Apples, Hickory Hollar - O.C. Smith
Goin' Out Of My Head/Can't Take my Eyes Off Of You medley, Hurt So Bad, Shangrila, When I Fall in Love, More, Theme from Summer Place, etc. - Lettermen
Something Stupid - Frank & Nancy Sinatra
Boots, Sugar Town, You Only Live Twice theme, etc. - Nancy Sinatra
Feelin' Alright - Joe Cocker
The Way We Were - Barbra Streisand
Tell Her You Love Her, The World We Knew (OD dano fuzz on "World"), How Do You Keep The Music Playing, etc. - Frank Sinatra
Hold Me Thrill Me etc. - Mel Carter
Godfather Theme, Love Story, Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You, etc. - Andy Williams
In The Heat Of The Night, I Don't Need No Doctor, America The Beautiful, Eleanor Rigby, I Chose To Sing The Blues, Here We Go Again, Don't Change
On Me, Feel So Bad, Understanding etc. - Ray Charles
Romeo & Juliet Theme (A Time For Love), Willow Weep For Me, Godfather Theme, others & Doc Severinson lp etc. - Henry Mancini
Mercy Mercy Mercy etc. - Buckinghams
Indian Reservation etc. - Paul Revere & Raiders
Natural Man, Love Is A Hurtin' Thing, Unforgettable, Your Good Thing etc. - Lou Rawls
John Gummoe's Rhythm Of The Rain - Cascades
Song Of Innocence - David Axelrod I Was Made To Love Her - Stevie Wonder
What'd I Say, A Little Less Conversation, Suspicious Minds etc. - Elvis Presley (this cut is claimed by 4 others too)
Bless The Beasts And The Children - Perry Botkin
Little GTO, Go Little Honda - Hondels
Candy Man, Have A Little Talk, Mr. Bojangles, Legend In My Time, I'm Not Anyone - Sammy Davis Jr.
Shaft Theme - movie OD MGM w/J.J.Johnson (credited on sheet music)
You Gave Me A Mountain, To Each His Own etc. - Frankie Laine
Games People Play, Happy Together, Comin' Home etc. - Mel Torme
Wichita Lineman, Galveston, etc. - Glen Campbell
Someday We'll Be together Again, Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Diana Ross (w/Temps, cut 1968 RCA, Paul Humphrey on drums released 1970, you hear my improvising on this after my music fell down on take)
If I Could Build My Whole World Around You, Ain't Nothin' But The Real Thing - Marvin Gaye & Tami Terrell (Steiner's studio - LA)
Don't Pull Your Love Out On Me baby - Hamilton, Joe Franks & Reynolds (ABC Paramount OD)
It Must Be Him etc. - Vickie Carr
12th Of Never, Alone Again, Memories, etc. - Johnny Mathis
Tiny Bubbles etc. - Don Ho
When I Die - Motherlode (Toronto)
Batman Theme & others - Marketts
I'm A Believer, Last Train To Clarksville & others - Monkees
Homeward Bound, I Am A Rock, Scarborough Fair - Simon & Garfunkle
Call Me etc. - Chris Montez
Straight Life, Honey etc. - Bobby Goldsboro
River Deep, Mountain High - Tina Turner
No Matter What Shape Your Stomach's In - T-Bones
This Diamond Ring, Just My Style, etc. - Gary Lewis and Playboys
Soul & Inspiration - Righteous Bros.
Elusive Butterfly - Bob Lind
Hikky Burr - Bill Cosby TV Theme/Quincy Jones (TV and single) "Livin' It Up" lp - Jimmy Smith
Chump Change - Quincy Jones
Red Roses For A Blue Lady etc. - Vic Dana
Up A Lazy River (rock part) etc. - Bobby Darin
It's A Small World - Mike Curb & Congregation (at Disneyworld too)
Light My Fire - Doors (listed in book)
In Crowd, Going To The Gogo, etc. (dano, el. bass) - Dobie Gray
Bonnie Jean - Ed Ames
Love Child, Baby Love, Stop In The Name Of Love, Back In My Arms Again, You Can't Hurry Love, My World Is Empty Without You, Reflections, Love Is Here And Now You're Gone, You're All I Need To Get By etc. - Supremes
GIT On Broadway TV Show - Diana Ross/Temptations cut 1969 NBC, Al Lapin contractor
Come Together - Count Basie
I Can't Help Myself, Bernadette etc. - 4 Tops
Peace Of Mind, Out Of This World - Nancy Wilson
Willow Weep For Me - Chad & Jeremy
This Is My Song - Pet Clarke
Joe Williams Live lp
Big Man lp - Cannonball Adderly
A Time For Love - Tony Bennett
Northern Windows lp - Hampton Hawes Trio
Get Ready, I Second That Emotion - Temptations
Doo Ron Ron - Crystals
Count Me In etc. - Bobby Vee
Yellow Balloon - Gary Zekeley
Baby The Rain Must Fall - Glenn Yarborough
Midnight Confessions, etc. - Grass Roots
Home Of The Brave - Jody Miller
David Axlerod produced lps
You Made Me So Very Happy - Brenda Holloway
Sixteen Tons (60s recut heard now on radio, others) - Tenn. Ernie Ford
Alone Again Or, Dailey Planet - Love
Bang Bang, Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves - Cher
Winter Wonderland - Darlene Love
Expected to Fly - Buffalo Springfield
The Summer Wind - Wayne Newton
Universal Jones Vol. I - Gene McDaniels
Do I Love You? - Ronnie Spector & The Ronettes
Fastman Raiderman - Frank Black NEW
Frummenn - The Original Studmenn (VIP Iceland group) NEW
Rhythm Of The Rain - John Gummoe and Cascades
I've Got Everything I Need - Gerald & Nancy Ray
Endless Summer CD, Beach Boys
Spotlight On Bobby Darin, Bobby Darin
16 Most Requested Songs, Robert Goulet
Greatest Hits Vols. 1 & 2, Billy Joel
The Very Best of Frank Sinatra
The Hit Years, Frank & Nancy Sinatra
Ballads Blues & Big Bands, Nancy Wilson
All Time Greatest Hits, Barry White
How Can You Mend a Broken Heart - Roger Williams
Do I Love You - Frank Wilson Motown Soul
1960s Love Unlimited Orchestra - Barry White,
Urizen - Dave Axelrdod
Kaye's sampled bass lines on:
Puffin on a Cloud - Beatnuts
A Day at The Races - Jurassic 5
Man And Boy - Bill Withers/Quincy Jones
Midnight Cowboy - Percy Faith
"The Good Life" - Bobby Darin
"Our Town" - Frank Sinatra

Played guitar on

Unchained Melody, You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling - The Righteous Brothers
La Bamba - Ritchie Valens
The Beat Goes On (Dano bass guitar), He's A Rebel, I Got You Babe, Baby Don't Go, All I Want To Do (backbeat elec. guitar)- Sonny and Cher
Surfin' USA - The Beach Boys (Elec. Rhythm Guitar, Billy Strange on Solo Lead Guitar - Union contract)
What A Wonderful World, Summertime - Sam Cooke
Almost In My Arms - Houseboat movie
What The World Needs Now - Jackie DeShannon
Bang Bang, Alfie, Needles and Pins - Cher
Danke Shoen - Wayne Newton
In the Misty Moonlight - Dean Martin
Comin' In the Back Door - Baja Marimba Band
Mexican Shuffle - Herb Alpert
Do You Love Me - The Isley Brothers
Little Old Lady From Pasadena, Dead Man's Curve, Surf City - Jan and Dean
Long White Room - Nancy Wilson
In Crowd (Dano bass guitar) - Dobie Gray
Smooth Operator - Sara Vaughn
Johnny Angel - Shelly Fabares
My Cup Runneth Over, Try To Remember, Sunrise Sunset - Ed Ames
Deep Purple - April and Nino
Birds and the Bees - Jewel Akens
Husbands and Wives - Roger Miller
Let's Dance - Chris Montez
Zippity Doo Da - Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans
Highland Fling - Marti Barris
1st 2 Frank Zappa LP's (12-string)
Needles and Pins - Jackie DuShannon
Most of the Phil Spector-produced hits with The Righteous Brothers
Ronny and the Ronetttes
The Crystals - And Then He Kissed Me ((Elec. 12-string guitar)
The Paris Sisters
The Blossoms
Many of the early O'Jays hits
Many other early hits with David McCullum (mostly el. 12-string guitar), Harry Nilsson, Chipmonks, Duayne Eddy, Dick Dale, Pat Boone, Rosemary Clooney, Ed Ames, Paul Anka, Sonny & Cher (mostly el. 12-string guitar fills), 25 Guitars lps, Ray Charles, Willie Bobo, Bessie Griffin, Ike and Tina Turner, Ritchie Valens, Sam Cooke, Kris Kristofferson, Ann-Margaret, H. B. Barnum, Sarah Vaughn, Jan & Dean, Isley Bros., Fred Smith, lots of funky soul stuff, as well as the pop, and jazz with Chet Baker, Jack Milman band, Golden Boy lp (w/H.B.Barnum), Cannonball
Adderly mid-60s, Mongo Santamaria, Howard Roberts, Rene Bloch, and some others...

Some T.V. Shows - Electric Bass

Music, Jazz, Electric Bass, Bass, Guitar, Jazz Guitar, Bass Guitar, Female Musician, Studio Musician, 60's Hits, Hit Records, Most Recorded Bassist, Bass Lines, Tutors, Educational, Music Teacher, Music Books, Music Videos, Music CDsM*A*S*H
Mission Impossible
Ironside
Kojak
Hawaii 5-O
Bill Cosby Show (the first one)
Room 222
Streets of San Fransico
Brady Bunch
Cannon
McCloud
Hogan's Heros
Addams Family
Soap
FBI
It Takes a Thief
Wonder Woman
Alice
Peyton Place
Love Boat
Get Smart
Green Acres
Wild Wild West
Lost in Space
Lucy
Mannix
Stalag 17
C.S.I.
House Md
Angel 4
ER
The West Wing
News Radio
Pursuit of Happyness
King of The Hill
Rush Hour 2 & 3
Kill Bill
The Bob Newhart TV Show


Some Film Scores - Electric Bass

Ace Eli & Roger of The Skies
Across 110th Street
Adam At 6AM
Airport
Angel In My Pocket
Angel 4
Baby The Rain Must Fall
Bandolero
Banning
Beach Boys: An American Family
Beneath The Planet Of The Apes
Beach Blanket Bingo
The Big Chill
The Big Bus
Big Jake
Bikini Beach
The Boatnicks
Bob Carol Ted And Alice
Boogie Nights
Bubble Boy
Bucket List, The
Bullit
Bunny O'Hare
Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid
Butterflies Are Free
C.S.I. Crime Scene Investigation
Cactus Flower
Cahill US Marshall
Casino
Change Of Habit The Cheyenne Social Club
Colussus The Forbin Project
Contact
Coogan's Bluff
The Cool Ones
Daddy's Gone A-Hunting
A Dandy In Aspic
Dangerous Minds
Darker Than Amber
Devils Angels
Diamonds
Disturbing Behavior
Don't Make Waves
Downhill Racer
Duel
ER
The Eiger Sanction
Escape From The Planet Of The Apes
Father Of The Bride
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Fireball 500
Flap
Flea In Her Ear
Fools Rush In
Forrest Gump
The Fox
Friends
The Gang Who Couldn't Shoot Straight
The Getaway
Ghost
Goodfellas
The Grasshopper
Great Northfield Minn. Raid
Guess Who's Coming To Dinner
Gypsy Moths
The Happy Ending
Harper
Hellfighters
Hello Down There
High Plains Drifter
The Hot Rock
House, MD
Houseboat (guitar)
How To Stuff A Wild Bikini
I Love You Alice B Toklas
If He Hollars Let Him Go
Impasse
The Impossible Years
In Cold Blood
In The Heat Of The Night
Kill Bill
King Of Kings
King Of The Hill
La Bamba
Lady In Cement
Last Of The Secret Agents
Le Mans
Limbo
Live A Little Love A Little
The Long Goodbye
The Lost Man
The Love Machine
MASH (and all MASH TV shows - rec'd re-uses)
Madigan
McQ
McKenna's Gold
Madigan
Magnum Force
A Man Called Gannon
Matchstick Men
Medicine Ball Caravan
Meet The Parents
Me Natalie
Miniskirt Mob
The Money Pit
Murderer's Row
Myra Breckenbridge
Naked Gun 2-1/2
The New Adventures of Wonder Woman
The New Centurions
They Call Me Mister Tibbs
Newman's Law
NewsRadio
Nobody's Perfect
No Way To Treat A Lady
Norwood
Oceans 13
On Any Sunday
One Is A Lonely Number
Only Game In Town
PJ
The Paper Chase (and TV shows)
Patch Adams
The Pawnbroker
Pete And Tillie
The Pink Jungle
Plaza Suite
Poseidon Adventure
Practical Magic
Puf 'N Stuff
Pursuit Of Happyness
Red Line 7000
Revenge
Rush Hour 2
Rush Hour 3
Scooby-Doo
The Shakiest Gun In The West
Shoes Of The Fisherman
Showdown
Shrek (Whipped Cream)
Silent Running
Skullduggery
Sleepers
The Slender Thread
Smoky
Soap
Sometimes A Great Notion
The Split
Stand Up And Be Counted
Sugarland Express
Sweet Charity
Sweet Ridge
The Swinger
Tell Me That You Love Me Junie Moon
Tell Them Willie Boy Is Here
There Was A Crooked Man
The Thief Who Came To Dinner
The Letter
Thomas Crown Affair
Three Bites Of The Apple
Thunder Alley
Tin Men
Tony Rome
Top Gun
Two People
The Undefeated
Vanilla Sky
Vegas Vacation
Walk Don't Run
A Walk On The Moon
Walking Tall
The West Wing
Waterhole 3
What's So Bad About Feeling Good
Where Angels Go Trouble Follows
Where Were You When The Lights Went Out
A Whisper Kills
White Lightning
Wild In The Streets
Wild Racers
Will Penny
Winning
With Six You Get Egg Roll
Young Billy
The Young Runaways
Yours Mine And Ours
Viva Las Vegas
Houseboat 1958 (guitar) ......and many others.

I did the entire scores of all the movies listed (plus many more not listed), except a few of the later ones like Tin Man, Shampoo, American Grafitti, Top Gun, Ghost, La Bamba (guitar on La Bamba and Ghost) etc. which used old music. The list of paid re-use monies changes from year to year....as they are reported for re-uses on free TV (cable TV does not pay for re-uses of movies).

Some T.V. Specials with:

Red Skelton
Nancy Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Lena Horne
Petula Clarke
Ann-Margaret
Bob Hope
G.I.T on Broadway (Motown)
Academy Awards Shows
Herb Alpert
That's Entertainment
Brian Wilson
Glen Campbell
Petula Clarke and Andy Williams

Her website: http://www.carolkaye.com
(you can still take bass lessons on Skype from her)

Excellent video where she talks about moving from jazz to rock/pop and lots of others things. Moving from jazz meant dumbing down ... but being a studio musician payed a lot better than playing jazz in clubs (and jazz was dying).