User:Steve Bassett - Singer/sandbox

Steve Bassett (born Richmond, Virginia 1950 is an American legendary southern rock and roll/blue eyed soul singer/ songwriter, Hammond B-3 player, and independent recording artist. based in Richmond, Virginia. His albums have featured such friends as Jerry Wexler, Elliott Randall, Delbert McClinton, Ed King, Tony Joe White, Jim Horn, Don Wise, James Pennebaker, Rick Darnell, Terry Townson, Kevin McKendree, Larry Byrom, Kelvin Holly, Randy McCormick, Bob Babbitt, Jimmy Nalls, Mike Henderson, T. Graham Brown, Clifford Curry, Jimmy Black, and Roger Hawkins, David Hood, Barry Beckett and Jimmy Johnson of The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. His accomplishments include being the co-author of "Sweet Virginia Breeze", southern soul music chart-topper, and first call singer of national network commercial jingles.

Steve Bassett bought his first organ in 1963 and joined The Reactions...he had one and never looked back. One night at The Wigwam during "Route 66", he was a changed man. Soul shows at the Sahara Club at home in Richmond, Virginia, gave him clarity of purpose. Three decades of roadhouse R&B ensued.

"Steve Bassett’s musical style is a synthesis of America’s root music; Blues, R&B, Gospel, and Rock & Roll. He is a singer’s singer and he communicates with his audience in a soulful front porch manner that crosses markets and generations and leaves the listener feeling like he has sung to them alone." John Hammond, Sr.

John Hammond, Sr. added him to his renowned list of discovered talent and signed him to Columbia Records in 1980. The resulting album, STEVE BASSETT, produced by Jerry Wexler and Barry Beckett in Muscle Shoals, gathered four star honors from the critics and shifted Bassett’s touring life from the East Coast to opening slot for Stevie Ray Vaughan across America. Delbert McClinton has flown him in for years so he can play on the evening’s show. Artists such as Latimore, Son Seals and Luke Walker record his songs. His band, "The Mystic Soul Bubbas" with Roger Hawkins and David Hood (of the legendary Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section) released a CD of their music entitled "The SOUTHLAND" and continue their collaborations in Alabama.

Bassett’s vocal style delivered him into the heavens of satellite broadcast as: "...one of the top first-call soloists in the country." He has sung over 100 network radio and television commercials. This bailed him out of the roadhouses for a while and into his creative lean, allowing him the pleasure of making music in his favorite places with his favorite people.

1994 saw the American distribution of an album of Bassett’s originals he produced with his pal, Elliot Randall (guitarist for Steeley Dan and Doobie Brothers) entitled "STANDING ON THE VERGE" and a summer tour of blues festivals with Delbert McClinton. In 1995 he produced his next album "ON A SATURDAY NIGHT" with his friend, Tim Loftin. This collection of their R&B favorites was released in Europe this year. At the end of 1996 he released his CD "I GOT AN ATTITUDE"; an album of blues material written by Bassett and Rick Darnell. Bassett spent 1997, and 1998 touring the U.S. full time as B-3 player in Delbert McClinton’s renowned R&B band. He is co-author of "SWEET VIRGINIA BREEZE", with Robbin Thompson, which is currently being considered as the new state song of Virginia.

The release of his dance party record with The Mystic Soul Bubbas entitled "Party In A Box" resulted in top chart activity and airplay in the Beach Music market throughout the Southeast and the Blues market across the nation on over 200 radio stations. Three record projects came during the next two years with Jimmy Black, veteran Virginia jazz pianist. Steve and Jimmy's hanging out resulted in "Straight Up", "One More Time", and "Home" released to the warmest reception from their fans at home. Steve next produced his friend and gospel mentor Larry Bland's latest release, "Gotta Keep Moving", which features the wonderful gospel artistry of another of Virginia's favorite sons. The release of Steve's blues project "You Don't Know Me", was recorded at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and include 9 songs written with Rick Darnell.

The next release was the 'live" album MYSTIC SOUL BUBBAS recorded on location and at Mystic Soul Bubba World Headquarters. It is a collection of tunes from the playlist of the band Steve formed in 2002 with legendary East Coast drummer Ammon Tharp. While in Michigan performing, Steve Bassett hooked up with new pal, Paul Keller to continue down the road of performing the great American Standards. After the first airing of "Blowin' The Dust Off" the Virginia State Parks contacted Bassett, which resulted in a 16-week tour of Virginia's State Parks beginning in May 2007. 2008 saw Steve in the studio or on the stage daily. It was a year of reunion, pilgrimage, and renewal.

"The highlight of 2009, and perhaps my career, was the invitation I received from Paul and Lisa Wexler to attend the memorial for their dad, and my friend, Jerry Wexler."

"It was held at The Directors Guild Theatre in NYC. Bettye LaVette was a tough act to follow but the blue-eyed soul brother Steve Bassett proved up to the task with his rousing closer (closing rouser?) of “Shake, Rattle and Roll.” Signed by Wex’s dear friend John Hammond (1910-1987) in 1980, Steve made his lone Columbia album in Muscle Shoals with co-producers Jerry Wexler and Barry Beckett. Gradually Bassett built up a solid career as an in-demand jingle and session singer, later self-releasing a slew of his own CDs from home base in Richmond, VA. Steve’s unpretentious, joyful delivery of the Big Joe Turner flag-waver sent us out onto West 57th Street on an uplifting cloud of good feeling, grateful to have been part of the occasion".

John Hammond Sr. told Bassett to stick to what he did most honestly. He did that. Bassett is real good at that. He’s still playing his Hammond B-3.....and he’s still not looking back! "My career carries me wherever it needs to go....In between time – I make more music." S.B. http://www.gcronline.com/imagine/artists.htm Steve remains busy, performing solo or with his bands; Steve Bassett & Friends or The Mystic Soul Bubbas, as a featured entertainer at special events throughout the US, and as a songwriter, session singer and player, and music producer. Please visit Steve at www.stevebassettmusic.com for concert info, CD's, bios, and all things Steve Bassett.