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Unheralded Sideman

There's a story from the first US tour of the original Jeff Beck Group that after a performance in Central Park's Wollman Skating Ring a PR type from the record label ran up to the group's vocalist, Rod Stewart, and said, "Great show Jeff, and your band has a really good guitarist too!" So much for the intelligence of PR reps, but there are occasions where I think the sidemen musicians are at least as interesting, if not more interesting, than the star performers. Some of my favorite sidemen are:

James Jamerson - bass, Motown house band
Jack Ashford - tambourine, Motown house band
Charlie Watts - drums, Rolling Stones
Jack Cassady - bass, Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna
Bruce Thomas - bass, EC & the Attraction

Anybody eles have their favorite sidemen?
128x128onhwy61
kasperhauser
10 posts
 
Sc53: The dorky looking guy is Kenny Vaughn. He also plays with Kim Richey and a few other "Austin City Limits" types. He is indeed a MONSTER guitar player.

My vote goes to Robbie McIntosh. Check him out with the Pretenders, Talk Talk, Paul McCartney, Daryl Hall, and on his solo stuff. The guy is light years ahead of most guitarists out there.
audioak
15 posts
 
Carol Kaye,

http://www.carolkaye.com/
sc53
720 posts
 
Kasper and Walter--yes, it's Kenny Vaughn! Thanks for refreshing my memory. He says absolutely nothing onstage, looks very shy, but just blows everyone away with his well-placed licks. I think he may also play with the super-group (so to speak), Lambchop.
Thanks for the help, guys.
4yanx
1,576 posts
 
Venetta Fields for "side" female vocals
garfish
1,840 posts
 
Zaikesman really nailed this one-- good post. Others that come to mind for me are Jim Keltner on Drums, and Ry Cooder on guitar-- especially slide guitar. I don't know if they're "sidemen" in the conventional sense as both have become somewhat musically famous in their own right. Cheers. Craig
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