Interview with bass player, Deon Estus - Formally of Wham!

Grand Bahama Island - The Bahamas Weekly brings you an exclusive interview with Deon Estus, American bassist and singer, best known as the bass player of "Wham!" and as George Michael's bassist on all of his subsequent projects after Wham! This interview was recorded at Mackeymedia Communications in Freeport.

Estus was born in Detroit and his bass teacher as a child was the late James Jameson of Motown fame (the Funk Brothers). Deon has played with the likes of Elton John, Marvin Gaye, Tina Turner, and Stevie Wonder, just to name a few.

Click to view the video interview (February 25, 2008) and hear Deon play a few riffs on his bass, and speak of his career and future projects...

Deon Estus on Wikipedia

BIO: Deon Estus epitomizes the phrase, "Born to perform!" From the time his great-grandmother gave him his first guitar at age of three, it was obvious that Deon and music was a match made in heaven. Coming from a family deeply involved with the arts, Deon's affinity for music was first manifested in singing opera with the Philadelphia Philharmonic Orchestra's youth program and soon gravitated to an overwhelming passion for the bass guitar. He quickly established himself as a local prodigy in the Detroit area and beyond, playing such venues as Motown studios, the Apollo theatre, the Grand Ole Opry, and Carnegie Hall.

Forming a band while still in his teens, Deon produced many dance hits resulting in his invitation to tour the United States as opening act for both The Whispers and the Brothers Johnson. Deon's unique abilities soon captured the attention of singing legend Marvin Gaye. Deon and Marvin forged a powerful relationship which led to collaboration on Marvin's "Midnight Love" album and continued through several years of European tours.

Deon's reputation as a bass virtuoso, accomplished composer, and skilled producer created a demand for his talent by such musical luminaries as Elton John, Annie Lennox, Seal, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, George Clinton, Frank Zappa, and Tracy Spencer. Yet it was in 1982 that he paired with little-known George Michael and his band Wham! Seemingly overnight, Wham! reached legendary status with Deon serving as musical director and bass guitarist. Highlights of the relationship include performing at MTV's 1st Music Awards at the Berlin Wall, the Princess of Wales Concert for Hope at Wembly Arena in London, and garnering distinction as the first western group to perform and tour China.

Eventually producing his own album entitled, "Spell," Deon's single "Heaven Help Me," co-written with George Michael, reached the elusive top 5 on the International Billboard charts, and his second single, "Spell" climbed to number 8.

Now residing again in the United States, this prolific writer, performer, and consummate professional is in high demand. Considered one of the top 5 bass players in the world, Deon is lending his diverse talents to such projects as scoring films, working in the studio assisting premiere artists, as well as forming his own label.

Many consider music the only true universal language. Deon Estus speaks it fluently.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• deon
• estus
• wham
• george
• michael
• freeport
• bahamas
• robbin
• dave
• whachell
• interview
• elton
• john

[sprintbass]

when i look back on my all time faviorite bass players Deon Estus is one of them. if you listen to whams "if you were there" " "where did your heart go" "club tropicana" all that stuff..when that was p[opular i started taking cello and i moved to bass..im 35 now and im still playing bass..those guys were my heros..john taylor..bernard edwards of chic..hell even tevor horn video killed the radio star..im a child of the 80s damn it and im proud! thanks for this vid!

D

[ajittffcure]

Deon Estus is a great bass player. He is one of my favourites, actually. Nice to hear him speak, over here. It is an exclusive interview. Thanks for posting this video.

[OSSIEE111]

An excellent interview: informative, entertaining, passionate, easily believable and convincing; performing the rifts reminds me of coz Kirk Coakley

[musicislove67]

wonderfull interview so many sweet memories love and hugss Deonxxx

[Tre404]

That's FORMERLY of Wham!

[melodiesunshine2]

he is a fabulous bass player, Fabulous musician!

[thoseeyes222]

Hey Deon from the motorcity. U played in my basement on Sussex in the 70's with Dana Potts - Guitar, Kevin Brown (my cousin)= Keyboards, Greg Stanton - Sax, Tony - drummer. Edgewater back in the day. Many Blessings Kem

[MJamesIII]

DETROIT, make some Noise!

[vlweb3d]

ARRESTED FOR DANCING - LOL

[FlipAl68]

Can anyone tell me when Deon worked with Zappa?