Jump to content

Victor Bailey (musician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 66.189.175.102 (talk) at 02:51, 23 November 2016. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Victor Bailey
Bailey in 2008
Bailey in 2008
Background information
Born(1960-03-27)March 27, 1960
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedNovember 11, 2016(2016-11-11) (aged 56)
GenresJazz, jazz fusion, pop
OccupationMusician
InstrumentBass
Years active1980–2016
LabelsAtlantic, Zebra, ESC, Chesky
Websitewww.victorbailey.com

Victor Bailey (March 27, 1960 – November 11, 2016) was an American bass guitar player.[1] He was the bassist for Weather Report during their final years from 1982 to 1986, and launched a solo career in 1988. As a player, Bailey was known for his signature scat-bass solos.

Biography

Born in Philadelphia, on March 27, 1960, Victor Randall Bailey was raised by a highly musical family. His father, Morris Bailey Jr., was an active musician and composer, while his uncle, Donald "Duck" Bailey, was a jazz drummer, who played on numerous Blue Note records (e.g., Jimmy Smith Trio, Hampton Hawes, Carmen McRae, Dizzy Gillespie).[2] As a child, Bailey played the drums, but ultimately switched to bass guitar after the bassist in his neighborhood band walked out of a band practice. Because young Victor took an immediate liking to the instrument, his father encouraged him to become a bass player.[3] Beginning in 1978, at the age of 18, Bailey attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston after being disqualified from naval service due to asthma.[4]

Like his father, Bailey suffered from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease for most of his adult life. As the disease progressed, Bailey began using a cane to offset his weakened legs. The weakness finally spread to his upper body, necessitating his 2015 retirement from performing and from his teaching position at Berklee College of Music.[5] He died on November 11, 2016 in Stafford, VA,[6] likely from complications from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease). [7]

Fender released a Victor Bailey Signature acoustic bass guitar,[8] as well as the Victor Bailey Jazz Bass (Artist series), available in 4, 5-string, fretted and fretless versions.[9] Bailey also used Markbass amplifiers.

Discography

As leader

References

  1. ^ "CBW: Larry Coryell/Victor Bailey/Lenny White "Traffic" Chesky". The Washington Post. February 9, 2007. Retrieved June 16, 2008.
  2. ^ "Passing of Donald Bailey". Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  3. ^ "Biography". Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  4. ^ "Interview with bass player Victor Bailey". For Bass Players Only. 2010-02-15. Retrieved 2016-04-26.
  5. ^ "Victor Bailey". October 30, 2015. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
  6. ^ "Victor Bailey, RIP". VictorBailey.com. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  7. ^ "Health Update, Sept. 27th 2016". Retrieved 12 November 2016.
  8. ^ "Gear and equipment". Victor Bailey. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  9. ^ Fender (2008-03-05), Fender® Victor Bailey Signature Basses, retrieved 2016-04-26
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Victor_Bailey_(musician)&oldid=751054522"