Bob Babbitt

Robert Andrew Kreinar (November 26, 1937 – July 16, 2012), known as Bob Babbitt, was an American bassist, most famous for his work as a member of Motown Records' studio band, the Funk Brothers, from 1966 to 1972, as well as his tenure as part of MFSB for Philadelphia International Records afterwards. Also in 1968, with Mike Campbell, Ray Monette and Andrew Smith, he formed the band Scorpion, which lasted until 1970. He is ranked number 59 on Bass Player magazine's list of "The 100 Greatest Bass Players of All Time".

Babbitt traded off sessions with original Motown bassist James Jamerson. When Motown moved to Los Angeles, Babbitt went in the opposite direction and ended up in New York as well as making occasional trips to Philadelphia. In this new city, he worked on recordings for Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow, Gloria Gaynor, Robert Palmer, and Alice Cooper. During this time, his most notable successes were "Midnight Train to Georgia"(1973) by Gladys Knight & the Pips and "The Rubberband Man" by The Spinners.

The Pittsburgh-born Babbitt's most notable bass performances include "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" (1970) by Stevie Wonder; "War" (1970) by Edwin Starr; "The Tears of a Clown" (1970) by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles; "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" (1971) and "Inner City Blues" (1971) by Marvin Gaye; "Band of Gold" (1970) by Freda Payne; "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)", "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" (1971) and "Masterpiece" (1973) by The Temptations; "Scorpio" (1971) by Dennis Coffey; and "Just Don't Want to Be Lonely" (1973) by The Main Ingredient.

He participated in hundreds of other hits, including "Little Town Flirt" by Del Shannon and "Scorpio" by Dennis Coffey & the Detroit Guitar Band. He played on the Jimi Hendrix album Crash Landing. He also played bass on Cindy Bullens' 1979 album Desire Wire. He accepted an offer from Phil Collins to perform on his album of Motown and 1960s soul classics, Going Back, and also appeared in Collins' Going Back – Live at Roseland Ballroom, NYC concert DVD. He appeared on stage in an episode of American Idol, backing up Jacob Lusk's performance of "You're All I Need to Get By" for AI's Motown Week in March 2011.

In 2003, Babbitt played on Marion James' album Essence, and amongst others playing on the record were Beegie Adair, Reese Wynans, Jack Pearson (The Allman Brothers), and drummer Chucki Burke.

He was added to the Music City Walk of Fame in June 2012.

Babbitt died on July 16, 2012, aged 74, from brain cancer.

Discography
With Frank Black With Dee Dee Bridgewater With Carlene Carter With Joe Cocker With Phil Collins With Peter Frampton With Marvin Gaye With Gloria Gaynor With Major Harris With Richie Havens With Cissy Houston With Sass Jordan With Margie Joseph With Eric Kaz With Ben E. King With Nils Lofgren With Taj Mahal With Barry Manilow With Herbie Mann With Kathy McCord With Jimmy McGriff With Moon Martin With Jackie Moore With Kenny Nolan With Laura Nyro With Yoko Ono With Robert Palmer With Teddy Pendergrass With Roxanne Potvin With Bonnie Raitt With Irene Reid With Vicki Sue Robinson With Rodriguez With Jimmy Ruffin With Tom Rush With Helen Schneider With Marlena Shaw With Sister Sledge With Lonnie Smith With Spinners With Rod Stewart With The Temptations With Stanley Turrentine With Frankie Valli With Dionne Warwick With Deniece Williams
 * Fast Man Raider Man (Cooking Vinyl, 2006)
 * Dee Dee Bridgewater (Elektra, 1980)
 * Two Sides to Every Woman (Warner Bros., 1979)
 * Hymn for My Soul (EMI, 2007)
 * Going Back (Atlantic, 2010)
 * Thank You Mr. Churchill (New Door Records, 2010)
 * What's Going On (Motown Records, 1971)
 * Never Can Say Goodbye (MGM, 1975)
 * Experience Gloria Gaynor (MGM, 1975)
 * I've Got You (Polydor, 1976)
 * My Way (Atlantic Records, 1974)
 * Connections (Elektra, 1980)
 * Cissy Houston (Private Stock Records, 1977)
 * Get What You Give (Universal Music, 2006)
 * Sweet Surrender (Atlantic, 1974)
 * Margie (Atlantic, 1975)
 * Cul-De-Sac (Atlantic, 1974)
 * Supernatural (Atlantic, 1975)
 * Nils (A&M, 1979)
 * Evolution (The Most Recent) (Warner Bros., 1978)
 * Barry Manilow (Bell, 1973)
 * Even Now (Arista, 1978)
 * Surprises (Atlantic, 1976)
 * Baby Come Out Tonight (Manhattan, 1979)
 * Red Beans (Groove Merchant, 1976)
 * Mystery Ticket (Capitol, 1982)
 * Sweet Charlie Babe (Atlantic Records, 1973)
 * A Song Between Us (Polydor, 1978)
 * Smile (Columbia, 1976)
 * Feeling the Space (Apple Records, 1973)
 * Double Fun (Island, 1978)
 * Don't Explain (EMI, 1990)
 * Teddy (Philadelphia, 1979)
 * This One's for You (Philadelphia, 1982)
 * The Way It Feels (Alert, 2006)
 * Streetlights (Warner Bros. Records, 1974)
 * Two of Us (Glades, 1976)
 * Vicki Sue Robinson (RCA Victor, 1976)
 * Cold Fact (Sussex, 1970)
 * Jimmy Ruffin (Polydor, 1973)
 * Ladies Love Outlaws (CBS, 1974)
 * Let It Be Now (RCA Records, 1978)
 * Just a Matter of Time (Blue Note, 1976)
 * Circle of Love (Atco, 1975)
 * Keep on Lovin' (Groove Merchant, 1976)
 * New And Improved (Atlantic, 1974)
 * Soulbook (J Records, 2009)
 * Puzzle People (Gordy, 1969)
 * Psychedelic Shack (Motown, 1971)
 * Sky's the Limit (Motown, 1971)
 * All Directions (Motown, 1972)
 * Masterpiece (Motown, 1973)
 * The Temptations (Gordy, 1981)
 * The Man with the Sad Face (Fantasy, 1976)
 * Our Day Will Come (Private, 1975)
 * Lady Put the Light Out (Private, 1977)
 * Then Came You (Warner Bros., 1975)
 * My Melody (Columbia, 1981)
 * Niecy (Columbia, 1982)