Dennis Coffey-Scorpio

Bob Babbitt, Funk Brothers bassist, dies
5:06 PM, July 16, 2012

Motown bass player Bob Babbitt, whose work lit up a host of hits in the '60s and '70s, died this morning in Nashville, friends said. He was 74.

Babbitt had been diagnosed in early 2011 with an inoperable brain tumor. He was recently readmitted to the hospital after a year of home hospice care.

"Bob was a teddy bear of a guy," said former Motown engineer Ed Wolfrum. "And he was an extraordinary musician — a player's player."

At Motown Records in the late '60s, Babbitt's thick, fluid bass lines drove the groove on songs by the Temptations (Ball of Confusion), Stevie Wonder (Signed Sealed Delivered I'm Yours), Rare Earth (Losing You), Smokey Robinson & the Miracles (The Tears of a Clown) and many others.

Like his fellow members of Motown's renowned Funk Brothers studio band, he often moonlighted for other Detroit labels and studios, including United Sound and Golden World, performing on tunes such as the Capitols' Cool Jerk, the Parliaments' (I Wanna) Testify, and Freda Payne's Band of Gold.

Babbitt, a Pittsburgh native who moved to Detroit as a teenager in the late '50s, got his start on the Motor City music scene playing clubs with the popular local band the Royaltones.

His signature bass line came in 1971 — a stellar solo on the pioneering funk-rock song Scorpio with Dennis Coffey, himself a former Royaltone and Funk Brother.

"Bob had that big, fat sound," Coffey said today. "The highlight of his career, in my mind, was that solo. It set a bass standard. You didn't hear bass solos on records, let alone a hit record. Guys were freaking out trying to duplicate it. That was the benchmark for a bass player: You had to be able to play that Scorpio solo.'"

REST IN PEACE BOB, and thank you for the music we'll enjoy forever.

Superbee

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[blksun9]

@71SUPERBEE3 AND CIGARETTES WERE THIRTY-FIVE CENTS SO WAS A TOKENTO RIDE THE BUS OR THE SUBWAYAND IT WAS THE SIZE OF A DIME LOL !!! YEAH i'M THERE WITH U HOW TIME DOES FLY

[71superbee3]

When I first got my license, I could just about fill my tank for six bucks.

You can't get two gallons for that now.

[Meridian83West]

During the bass solo, you hear someone - probably "Bongo" Eddie Brown or Jack Ashford - yell "Grab it, Babbitt!" R.I.P. Bob Babbitt 1937-2012.

[71superbee3]

2:57

[Roguie Ray Lamontagne]

JAM WITH BOB MANY TIMES...HE WAS THE GREATEST R.I.P

[babylee716]

first time I heard this cut when my brother tony c Cunningham's 18th birthday party RIP

MY BROTHER 1955-1992.

[cined432]

I was a little 80lbs and 11 years old saving my twenty-five allowances just to buy 45's. I lived On Hoe Ave in the Bronx. The nearest record shop was on hunts point literally around the corner from my tenement building. Played this song over and over. My mom's use come in and turn off my record player. Can't even repeat half the stuff she said. HOT pants were out and the sizzler too. Dam those were some good days!! R.I.P. Bob Babbitt 1937-2012

[Gregory Countee]

Best song in my book. (BestYet!). Thanks!. G.C.

[John Whitehead]

Hadn't heard this one in 40 years! Awesome instrumental!

[doc2skate]

This sounds almost as good now as it did on my transistor radio...lol. Wonder if DC did a song for every sign of the zodiac?

[Michael Boyce]

Babbitt,along with Archie and his Brother Benny Benjamin were the Funk Bros,.ad also were the San Remo Golden Strings,too!

[cedric lashar]

im with u......nyc...i must have been 9..10 years old.......yeah time does fly..lol

[DFWOODSII]

RIP EDDIE "BONGO" BROWN

[TheVibratory]

sounds like kashmere stage band:)

[joejoe blackman]

The dance was called The Bump. When this song was out back in the day. But not only that I could play the drums and congas part to this song back then. Gang-Bangin days and high nights. joejoe Bed-Stuy, Bk