(1935-03-24) March 24, 1935 (age 89) Everett, Washington, U.S.
Genres
Rock
pop
jazz
R&B
soul
Occupation(s)
Session musician, teacher
Instrument(s)
Bass guitar, guitar
Years active
1949–present
Website
carolkaye.com
Musical artist
Carol Kaye (née Smith;[1] born March 24, 1935)[2] is an American musician. She is one of the most prolific recorded bass guitarists in rock and pop music, playing on an estimated 10,000 recordings in a career spanning over 65 years.[3]
Kaye began playing guitar in her early teens and after some time as a guitar teacher, began to perform regularly on the Los Angeles jazz and big band circuit. She started session work in 1957, and through a connection at Gold Star Studios began working for producers Phil Spector and Brian Wilson. After a bassist failed to turn up to a session in 1963, she switched to that instrument, quickly making a name for herself as one of the most in-demand session players of the 1960s, playing on numerous hits. She moved into playing on film soundtracks in the late 1960s, particularly for Quincy Jones and Lalo Schifrin, and began to release a series of tutoring books such as How To Play The Electric Bass. Kaye became less active towards the end of the 1970s, but has continued her career and attracted praise from other musicians.
During the peak of her years of session work, she became part of a stable of Los Angeles–based musicians which went by a variety of informal names, but has since become known as "The Wrecking Crew". Her work with the collective led to her prominent role in the 2008 documentary film titled The Wrecking Crew.
^Riley, Phoebe (April 16, 2016). "The Beach Girl Behind the Beach Boys". New York Magazine. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
^Murphy, Bill (August 10, 2012). "Forgotten Heroes: Carol Kaye". Premier Guitar. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
^Berklee College of Music (October 18, 2000). "Berklee Welcomes Legendary Studio Bassist Carol Kaye". Archived from the original on September 10, 2006. Retrieved March 13, 2007. Kaye is the most recorded bassist of all time, with 10,000 sessions spanning four decades.
CarolKaye (née Smith; born March 24, 1935) is an American musician. She is one of the most prolific recorded bass guitarists in rock and pop music, playing...
CarolKaye (née Smith; born March 24, 1935) is an American musician. She is one of the most prolific recorded bass guitarists in rock and pop music, playing...
Carole Keen (a character created in tribute to bass guitarist CarolKaye, though Kaye voiced objections to the overall character and portrayal), making...
recording. One of them, bassist CarolKaye, contributed the descending six-note intro. A second six-note bass lick improvised by Kaye was copied for strings by...
Additional musicians Ben Benay – electric guitar Mike Deasy – electric guitar CarolKaye – bass Don Randi – piano Larry Knechtel – organ Hal Blaine – drums Emil...
Feeling" (heard clearly in the song's bridge, played by session bassist CarolKaye, while the same repeating refrain is played on harpsichord by Larry Knechtel)...
almost manic edge" in Wilson's work during the 1970s. Session player CarolKaye noted of Wilson's basslines, "He took bass up another step. He saw it...
"clank" (uncertain credit) George Hyde – French horn Jim Gordon – drums CarolKaye – acoustic rhythm guitar (uncertain credit) Bill Pitman – Danelectro bass...
Presenting the Kaye Sisters (Philips, 1958) The Kayes at The Colony (Philips, 1959) Kaye Sisters Favorites (Philips, 1960) Gilly, Carol and Shan (Pye,...
Christlieb – bassoon Artie Kane – piano Bob Bain, Al Hendrickson – guitar CarolKaye – electric bass Larry Bunker, Shelly Manne – percussion According to Variety...
the leading Los Angeles studio musicians of the time, including bassist CarolKaye and Moog pioneer Paul Beaver. A short sequence of diegetic music features...
studio with a full band backing him. The musicians included René Hall, CarolKaye, and Earl Palmer. The first songs recorded at Gold Star Studios, at a...
Douglas – tenor flute Carl Fortina – accordion Bill Green – contra-clarinet CarolKaye – 12-string electric guitar Larry Knechtel – Hammond organ Al de Lory...
guitarists who doubled on the instrument. The most notable of the latter was CarolKaye, originally a jazz guitarist, who as a bassist became best known for her...
Haskell - session leader, arrangements Leon Russell Jimmy Bond Hal Blaine CarolKaye Glen Campbell Tommy Tedesco Louis Blackburn Kenneth Shroyer Roy Caton...
guitar Hal Blaine – drums Barney Kessel – guitars Tom Tedesco – guitars CarolKaye – guitars Bill Pitman – guitars Vincent Poncia Jr. – guitars Frank Capp –...
overdubbed tambourine Jimmy Bond – upright bass Frank Capp – vibraphone CarolKaye – Fender bass Bill Pitman – electric baritone lead guitar Brian Wilson...
Jean-Jacques Burnel and his early material with the Stranglers; he also credited CarolKaye and her musical basslines on early 1970s work of the Temptations. Sumner...
It also features a prominent bass part performed by session musician CarolKaye and vocal contributions by all members of the group. Despite a printed...
musicians Billy Strange (guitar), Don Randi (piano), Hal Blaine (drums), and CarolKaye (bass guitar) to work with Lee, completing the sessions for "Andmoreagain"...
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