Charles Walter Rainey III (born June 17, 1940) is an American bass guitarist who has performed and recorded with many well-known acts, including
Aretha Franklin,
Steely Dan, and
Quincy Jones.[1] Rainey is credited for playing bass on more than 1,000 albums,[2] and is one of the most recorded bass players in the history of recorded music.[3][4]
Early life
Rainey was born in
Cleveland, Ohio, on June 17, 1940, and grew up in
Youngstown. His parents were both amateur pianists. He learned viola, piano, and trumpet as a child[5] and majored in brass instruments in college.[6] He attended
Lane College in
Jackson, Tennessee.[4] Rainey began playing bass guitar in the military.[5]
Although much of his work was as a session player, Rainey recorded a solo album, The Chuck Rainey Coalition, in 1969. Other solo albums were Born Again (1982), Hangin' Out Right (1999),[8]Sing & Dance (2001),[9] and Interpretations of a Groove (2012).[10]
Rainey wrote the five-volume Complete Electric Bass Player instructional books, and filmed instructional videos. The early bass curriculum at
Musicians Institute and the Dick Grove School of Music were created by Rainey. He also wrote columns for Bass Player magazine from 1990-1992.[5]
On November 5, 2011, Rainey had a stroke[11] which paralyzed his left side. He spent four years receiving physical therapy and practicing meditation and
Hatha yoga, and made a full recovery.[6]
In 2014, Rainey and drummer John Anthony Martinez[12] cofounded Rhythm Intensive, which provides clinics, workshops, and master classes for aspiring rhythm section musicians.[13] Rainey and Martinez also co-authored The Tune of Success: Unmask Your Genius.[6]
In an interview with Chris Jisi in April 2020, Rainey disclosed that he had retired as a bassist and turned his focus to writing his biography and working with Rhythm Intensive.[14]
A Rainey signature line of bass guitars are produced by
Alvarez Guitars and Ken Smith Basses.[7]
Rainey received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music at a ceremony on May 7, 2022.[15]
Discography
As leader
The Chuck Rainey Coalition (Skye, 1969)
Albino Gorilla (Kama Sutra, 1971)
Born Again (Hammer 'N Nails, 1981)
Coolin' 'N Groovin' (A Night at On-Air) with
Bernard Purdie (Lexington, 1993)
Chuck Rainey/David T. Walker Band with
David T. Walker (Toy's Factory, 1994)
^
abFriedman, Josh Alan (2008). Tell the Truth Until They Bleed: Coming Clean in the Dirty World of Blues and Rock 'n' Roll. Hal Leonard Corporation. pp. 189–200.
ISBN978-0-87930-932-9.
Charles Walter Rainey III (born June 17, 1940) is an American bass guitarist who has performed and recorded with many well-known acts, including
Aretha Franklin,
Steely Dan, and
Quincy Jones.[1] Rainey is credited for playing bass on more than 1,000 albums,[2] and is one of the most recorded bass players in the history of recorded music.[3][4]
Early life
Rainey was born in
Cleveland, Ohio, on June 17, 1940, and grew up in
Youngstown. His parents were both amateur pianists. He learned viola, piano, and trumpet as a child[5] and majored in brass instruments in college.[6] He attended
Lane College in
Jackson, Tennessee.[4] Rainey began playing bass guitar in the military.[5]
Although much of his work was as a session player, Rainey recorded a solo album, The Chuck Rainey Coalition, in 1969. Other solo albums were Born Again (1982), Hangin' Out Right (1999),[8]Sing & Dance (2001),[9] and Interpretations of a Groove (2012).[10]
Rainey wrote the five-volume Complete Electric Bass Player instructional books, and filmed instructional videos. The early bass curriculum at
Musicians Institute and the Dick Grove School of Music were created by Rainey. He also wrote columns for Bass Player magazine from 1990-1992.[5]
On November 5, 2011, Rainey had a stroke[11] which paralyzed his left side. He spent four years receiving physical therapy and practicing meditation and
Hatha yoga, and made a full recovery.[6]
In 2014, Rainey and drummer John Anthony Martinez[12] cofounded Rhythm Intensive, which provides clinics, workshops, and master classes for aspiring rhythm section musicians.[13] Rainey and Martinez also co-authored The Tune of Success: Unmask Your Genius.[6]
In an interview with Chris Jisi in April 2020, Rainey disclosed that he had retired as a bassist and turned his focus to writing his biography and working with Rhythm Intensive.[14]
A Rainey signature line of bass guitars are produced by
Alvarez Guitars and Ken Smith Basses.[7]
Rainey received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Berklee College of Music at a ceremony on May 7, 2022.[15]
Discography
As leader
The Chuck Rainey Coalition (Skye, 1969)
Albino Gorilla (Kama Sutra, 1971)
Born Again (Hammer 'N Nails, 1981)
Coolin' 'N Groovin' (A Night at On-Air) with
Bernard Purdie (Lexington, 1993)
Chuck Rainey/David T. Walker Band with
David T. Walker (Toy's Factory, 1994)
^
abFriedman, Josh Alan (2008). Tell the Truth Until They Bleed: Coming Clean in the Dirty World of Blues and Rock 'n' Roll. Hal Leonard Corporation. pp. 189–200.
ISBN978-0-87930-932-9.