Lance "Romance" Bakemeyer

One of my biggest early influences for my slap bass playing was Marshall Lytle.  Marshall originally was a guitar player (like me) and also was a songwriter (like me).  He was taught how to play the slap bass by Bill…

Willie Dixon arguably the "Father of Slap Bass" has a recording of his trio from the late 1940's that was very influential to me and many other slap bass players - (including Lee Rocker of the Stray Cats).  Here is…

Here is another example of "Clowning Around" with Slap Bass and the "Clown" Bass Player.  English TV - 1956

Johnny and Dorsey Burnette were Brothers, Professional Boxers and played (practiced) in the same apartment complex with Elvis.  In fact it was said that they kicked Elvis out of the "jam sessions" in the complex because he did not know…

Back to the Bass Player "Clowning Around" - Here is a video of a Gene Autrey "barn dance" complete with a clown for a banjo player who apparently does not like "Dates" that chew gum along ( as he chomps…

Bill Black was 9 years older than Elvis.  Bill was very instrumental in getting Elvis over his initial stage fright and told him to move around to entertain the audience.  At many points in 1954 when they first started, Bill…

Bill Black was Elvis's slap bass player.  He and Scotty Moore (Lead Guitar) were sent by Sam Phillips to audition Elvis on June 27th 1954 at Scotty's home.  After the audition, both Bill and Scotty commented to Sam that "with…

Slap bass as used in New Orleans Jazz, "Hillbilly" and "Country" Music in the late 19th Century seems to have been considered a novelty.  This may be why the Bass Player was considered a "clown" or "comedian" in many bands…

I first saw the Stand-up/Acoustic/Doghouse/Up-right/Double Bass/String Bass/ Bass fiddle/Contra Bass/ Bull Fiddle or simply "Bass" slapped at the 1982 Henderson Colorado Bluegrass Festival.  I was there to compete in the Banjo contest.  (Another blog). The band was Country Gazette, and…

The year 2014 marks 30 years of playing "live" rockabilly for me in front of a paying audience or promoter.  My first rockabilly gig was with Chuck Hughes in the Fall of 1984.  We played outside on a flatbed trailer…