Welcome to my #TTT #ThreeTuneTuesday entry!
Good morning, everyone!
Today, for the 83rd week of my series celebrating music-related birthdays, I’m featuring a true diva—a woman I didn’t even know who she was until now… (What ignorance on my part, I know…).
Today marks the 91st birthday of the great Carol Kaye! And while many of you may not recognize her by name, I guarantee that you will ALL recognize her work, and be impressed by the sheer volume and quality of her output over the years...
And why aren’t we very familiar with this artist? Well, largely because she’s a studio artist. In other words, she may have participated in the recording of an album, but she doesn’t appear in that group’s live performances.
So, I’ll start by telling you a little about Carol. Born in Everett, Washington, on March 24, 1935, to professional musicians Clyde and Smith Dot, she had a childhood lacking in some comforts. She lived near the Port of Los Angeles, and by the age of 14, she had already begun teaching guitar professionally.
She always stood out in the jazz scene, having begun performing in nightclubs on the outskirts of Los Angeles as early as the 1950s, as a backing musician for well-known jazz groups such as those led by Bob Neal and Jack Sheldon, among others.
In late 1957, by chance, and following a collaboration with Sam Cooke, she began participating in a lucrative studio project that would change the course of her career.
Years later, she was invited to fill in as a bassist for a session at Capitol Records in Hollywood when the bassist failed to show up.
At that time, she was a member of the renowned and famous group known as the “Wrecking Crew,” having participated in virtually all of their hit recordings from the 1960s.
She also contributed to many Beach Boys recordings, including “Good Vibrations,” “California Girls,” and “Help Me, Rhonda.” Throughout the 1960s, she frequently worked with the leading producers and music directors in Los Angeles at the time, which helped her gain even greater popularity in that niche market.
She played bass on several Monkees hits, and produced numerous sound effects on guitar and electric bass in collaboration with Steven Spielberg and Quincy Jones.
She also contributed to the soundtracks of various TV shows, notably “Mission: Impossible,” “The Love Boat,” and “The Cosby Show.”
Other appearances include “The Addams Family,” “Bonanza,” and “Wonder Woman.”
She retired from studio work in the late 1970s due to arthritis, but returned to performing in live jazz sessions as both a guitarist and bassist. A true woman of many talents!
I hope you enjoy today’s post. I hope it has piqued your curiosity, just as it sparked mine to discover and share this fantastic and prolific bassist!
First, I’d like to share three interviews with Carol here, that I found out in YT, just so you can get a sense of her magic and mastery... Someone who has already left a tremendous legacy, but who is still active today.
This next video shows how one of the "Beach Boys" most popular songs came to be.
Another bass line she played and produced on this super-popular track!
And here’s another one that’s sure to get anyone excited… The ingenuity is amazing, isn’t it?
And for those who want to learn a little about the bass line, here’s a link to a simple tutorial!
For those who would like to learn a little about his work and bibliography, here is a link to her official website.
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