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. Four decades of roadhouse R&B ensued.
 
THE REACTIONS
with David Searles, Mike Bateman, John Peora, and Jack Beasley
"I've been playing since I can remember. I bought an old player piano when I was 12 with
some paper route money and took lessons from Mrs. Giles for a year.
Quit the next year, bought an Ace Tone with some more paper route money,
I had a big route, and learned "What'd I Say". I played through junior high and
high school with "The Reactions", "The Hazards", "The Potentials"
and "The Delshons"
THE DELSHONS
WITH LEAD SINGER DAVE LEYSHON
and then moved to Wilson, N.C.
to go to the only college that would accept me.
I quit after 6 weeks and spent the next two years playing around Carolina
with Ginger Thompson and with my band, "Earnest Baker and the Runaways Combo".
 
EARNEST BAKER & THE RUNAWAYS COMBO
We played music we wrote with an occasional Delaney
and Bonnie or Allman Brother cover.
I met Ed King in Wilson at the end of Strawberry Alarm Clock
and he and his family moved in with me and my buddy/drummer Howard Martin
for a while and we played and recorded some music over at Sound City in Bailey, N.C.
There was a great barbeque place across the street that made an
unbelievable pork tenderloin biscuit.
"Earnest Baker and The Runaways Combo" opened a rock show featuring
Iron Butterfly in Myrtle Beach one Easter weekend and I
ended up leaving at the end of it in a truck with Teegarden and Van Winkle, another act
on the bill, headed for Detroit to be their new driver/roadie/soundman.
Bob Seger started singing with them and we recorded the "Smokin OP's" record
on a Revox in the basement between road trips. It was supposed to be a
Teegarden and Van Winkle record but somehow Bob ended up releasing it and
David and Skip split up about a year later. Skip put a big rocking soul band
together and my responsibilities where expanded to driver/roadie/singer.
I learned a lot from "the Cowboy" about the Tulsa groove and the B-3,
and David is one of the smoothest drummers I ever heard.
 
David "The Cowboy"
After a year or so I went back home to Richmond for some healing.
AT THE SNAKE RANCH
That's when
I started doing my first gigs under my own name, playing the songs
I'd written over the previous years. A couple of young and alternative years later,
I signed a manager on who took me to New York to do some demos
with Elliot Shiner when he was on staff at A&R Studios.
ADOWNSTAIRS AT THE THIRD WORLD
aaaa
WITPATCHMAN AND MULTIMAN ELLIOTT RANDALL
That's when I met Elliott Randall who was recording in the next room.
My session rendered no record deal. My manager, a smuggler it turned out,
left the country and I spent the rest of the seventies playing the barbeque circuit
in the southeast for the beach music crowd or in New York with Elliott Randall
doing sessions for the jingle guys and playing live club dates with Els and his NYC pals.
The bands were silly; Alan Swartzberg, Gene Santini, Jeff Baxter, John Tropea,
Paul Shaffer, Cornell Dupree, Chuck Rainey, Richard Tee, Lou Marini,
Chris Parker, on and on. I'd be singing with them in a cattle call for PEPSI with Michael Bolton,
Joe Cerisano, and Johnny Barranco in the day time, hanging at Els studio later,
and singing with 'em at TRAX for a midnight show.
I knew all the soul tunes they wanted to play.
Wild times in New York those days. The jingle thing took off and
I spent the next few years flying everyday from NYC to Nashville to Chicago for sessions.
This was all pre-MIDI so I got to sing with real musicians everyday,and some of the best, as it turns out. "
Bassett's vocal style delivered him into the heavens of satellite broadcast as : "....one of the top first-call studio soloists in the country."
LCOLUMBIA RECORD SHOT
He has sung over 100 network radio and television commercials. This bailed him out of the roadhouses for a while into his creative lean, allowing him the pleasure of making music in favorite places with his favorite people.
RICHMOND SYMPHONY POPS CONCERT
WITH MY GUESTS LARRY BLAND & THE VOLUNTEER CHOIR
John Hammond, Sr. added him to his renowned list of discovered talent and signed him to Columbia Records in 1980.
MY PRODUCERS AND FRIENDS JOHN HAMMOND SR. AND JERRY WEXLER
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.
 
"Stevie was for real. I went with Mr. Hammond
to the showcase Stevie did for him in a club in NYC.
I remember Mr. Hammond telling me I was about to
witness a rhythm section with the power of a freight train.
Mr. Hammond signed the band the next day and
it wasn't long before I was on the road opening for them
for the next year. When Reese left Delbert's band to
to fall in with Stevie I fell in with Delbert."
Delbert McClinton has flown Bassett in through the years so he can play on the evening's show.
His studio band, The Mystic Soul Bubbas, with Roger Hawkins and David Hood of the legendary Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, along with Randy McCormick and Jim Horn, released a CD of
their music entitled "THE SOUTHLAND" and continue their collaboration in Alabama.
THE MYSTIC SOUL BUBBAS
David Hood, Jim Horn, Roger Hawkins, and Randy McCormick
"I stayed in touch with Roger and David down in Muscle Shoals following my refusal to bribe
the promotions guy at my record company. I never really got it that day he asked me
"what are you gonna do with all that promotion money you got down in Richmond?''
I read about that guy a few years later in a book called "HIT MEN".
He was in the big house."
I started going down to Muscle Shoals once every few weeks to play
with "The Mystic Soul Bubbas"and wallow in R&B with no excuses.
Damned if one of my jingle clients didn't come down there and record us on a DOLLY MADISON
commercial that ran for something like six years.
MUSCLE SHOALS SOUND STUDIO A
I spent a lot of time in Nashville during those days; wrote some with Clifford Curry,
played with Steve Wariner on the road, played with T. Graham Brown, Leroy Parnell,
and Gary Nicholson around town as they were starting up, played the "Bluebird" a lot
with Joe McGlohon's band "Bobby-Q and The Hot Smokin" Briskets.
One day Jim Horn called me to say that The TCB Band was getting together for a jam
and they needed a singer. A few hours later I was singing
"I Can't Help Falling In Love With You" with James Burton and the fellas. "
1994 saw the American distribution of a CD of Bassett's originals that he produced with his pal Elliott Randall entitled "Standing On The Verge" and a summer tour of blues festivals with Delbert McClinton.
"We did this one like it was 1969 again, out in the woods, recording wind chimes at night.
Cecil with his violin around the campfire, vocals sessions rolling down 81 in the motorhome,
that kinda thing. We held a session in the parking lot of my buddy's studio in Nashville
and had Duane Eddy, Jimmy Hall, Delbert, Tony Joe, Donnie Fritts,
all sorts of bubbas through that camper there that day.
THE NORTH POLE
"One of the blackest white R&B singers you will ever experience." - Bob Cianci. Blues Access
In 1995 he produced his next CD "On A Saturday Night" with his friend Tim Loftin. This collection of their R&B favorites, recorded live in a studio in Nashville, was released in Europe.
In 1996 Bassett began a songwriting collaboration with Rick Darnell-author of the blues classic "The Thrill is Gone". They have penned over 50 songs together to date.
"Rick and I have been a writing team for a good while now and we've had a wonderful time.
Lot of laughs....
Steve spent 1997-1998 on tour of the USA with his pal Delbert McClinton, grinding his Hammond B-3 "Bertha" and adding his soulful voice to the Delbert McClinton Band.
"Being on stage with Delbert has been my joy through the years. He's my Elvis."
In the third millenium, Bassett continues performing and composing while his collaboration with Robbin Thompson of 1976, "Sweet Virginia Breeze", has become the popular favorite for distinction as Virginia's new state song.
WITH ROBBIN THOMPSON
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.
"Working with Jimmy allowed me to sing the great music from my parent's youth,
the songs that rang through my home everyday as I was coming up.
What a pro, Jimmy, and I really appreciate the opportunity he gave me to stand
and sing these American treasures.
And aside from that.......the coolest of cats."
JAMES W. BLACK
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 first songs written by Darnell since he wrote "The Thrill Is Gone" for Roy Hawkins in the fifties
RICK DARNELL AND RICK HALL
"Rick and I headed down to the Shoals to meet my bubbas
David Hood, Brian Owings, and Kelvin Holly
to have a couple days of some fun of the blues variety.
We wrote "If You See Me Running" the day before we
left Virginia and "Since My Baby Went Away" in the Waffle House
down the street from Fame the morning before the last session.
I thought it would be fun to make up an instrumental with the bubbas
on the studio floor. David said nobody does that much.
Rick Hall was in the house. That seemed like good enough reason to jump in.
An hour later we had "Chicken Bones" and went to lunch.
I overdubbed Kevin Mckendree, Don Wise, and Terry Townson on
the Birchmere stage one day I was up there playing a couple
dates with Delbert. As some wait for record companies
to create their opportunities, my bubbas make my dreams come true.
I love them a lot and can't thank them enough."
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.
ON VIRGINIA BEACH WITH PARTNER IN SOUL AMMON THARP
"Two days after I got my driver's license I drove the Corvair down to Virginia Beach. I got a speeding ticket racing a
Volkswagen out of the Hampton Tunnel, dropped my keys down the heater vent once I got oceanside, then snapped
the clutch cable slipping my toe off the pedal trying to catch one in front of the Sea Pines. But, the most memorable
moment of that trip was the set of Soul Music I witnessed that night performed by Bill Deal and The Rhondels. They were the best Virginia soul band there ever was. The front line was immaculate, with Bill Deal burning this B3 and Wurlitzer through Leslies and some huge Fender cabinets and singing as easy as breathing. ...a big slamming horn section..and back there with bassist Don Quisenberry was Ammon stomping down the funk and singing his butt off. I immediately wanted to be in a band like that. Thirty five years later, Ammon and I started crossing paths down at Fat Harold's in Myrtle Beach. We finally got together to play one day for a show on Brown's Island . I played with two trains that day: the coal train rolling over the island and the soul train Ammon Tharp and Dave Eggleston were firing at the
back of the stage. Ammon and I got with brothers Randy and Kevin Moss, initiated the Virginia Lodge of
The Mystic Soul Bubbas, and started working up material. With the addition of a horn section and singer
extraordinaire Cornell Jones,we've played several swinging seasons of partys and festivals, now. Ammon
really knows how to call 'em to keep thedance floor packed and lays 'em down with all the thump
I remember from when I saw him the first time in '67.We're mighty lucky there's old soul music fans
here in Virginia and really appreciate them bringing us together
for all this fun we're having.
AMMON THARP, STEVE BASSETT,
KEVIN MOSS, CORNELL JONES,
RANDY MOSS, STEVE MABREY &TOMMY LOYOLA
"Blowin' The Dust Off"
"There is this fiddle that was built in Bulgaria around 1850. It came to Ohio and into the hands of
William Ward. Ward was with the 60th Ohio Infantry Band under the command of General Hancock,
and he played this fiddle through Petersburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor, to name a few.
The 60th Ohio Infantry Band payed before Lincoln during the war and participated in the Grand Review
in Washinton, D.C. on May 23, 1865 before Andrew Johnson. Willliam Ward was mustered out on July, 28, 1865.
In the Spring of 2004 this fiddle was shipped in pieces in a box from Florida and delivered by Fed Ex
to Chuck Kincaid in Richmond, Virginia. Kincaid, a collector of Civil War period pieces, had bought the fiddle
off of eBay to add to his collection, which already included a field drum, fife, bugle, harmonophone, guitar,
mandolin,and other instruments from the period.
In the Fall of 2005 Chuck Kincaid shared his collection with fellow Virginian Steve Bassett.
"I suggested we get them fixed up and tuned to gather around a campfire at The Buddy with some pickers and
play some good old songs to have these instruments making music again. I figured the original owners would
get a kick out of it. Backstage after playing a show with Delbert McClinton I ran into my pal Dick Lamb,
who had introduced me toold time and bluegrass picking years ago, and I asked him who we should take
the fiddle to for restoration His answer was John Larimore in Richmond.
The Fiddler William Ward
Chuck took it to John who lovingly restored it. Well, you know, as one thing leads to another,
Chuck and I ended up hitting the road to Guitar Town to hook up with my pals James Pennebaker
and Kevin McKendree at Kevin's Rock House Studio, and spent the day there recording a song list I'd put together
of songs that we felt these instruments had played before, along with a few tunes I'd had a hand
in writing with some of my bubbas. We were all pleased to have Pootie White there with us to render
his two cents on situations as they arose. Jeff Sarli was there with his upright bass, and Jason Mowery
(a great player that works with James in Big and Rich) met us there, and we had a large time.
Chuck's fiddle, guitar, mandolin, and other instruments were played with love and respect
by these fellas and we ended up baking a tasty cake of music.
Along this trail, I had been called in by the Virginia Tourism folks to direct a musical finale
at a convention for a group of tour planners and had the great pleasure of meeting some players from
The Crooked Road, an area of Virginia known for it's bluegrass and old time musicians and artists.
We got to perform with Governor T. M. Kaine on harmonica that evening. I asked them for their help
with our project and they were kind to accept. Chuck and I took a cabin in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia,
James came up and met us from Nashville, and Amber Collins and Ryan Blevins of No Speed Limit met
us there for a long day of great singing on a running creek at Highland Hideaway in the beautiful
Virginia mountains. While we were there we recorded a couple of more songs.
Back home in Cartersville I was flattered to have my lifelong friends Joe Mead (banjo),
Gary Gerloff (dobro), and Tim Timberlake (guitar) come to my studio for some good company and
musical accompaniment.My pal Robbin Thompson met me at Libbie Place Seafood, Sound, & Lube
for some harp. On a road trip, I stopped in Muscle Shoals to do a little more singing on the
other side of the glass from my favorite engineer Steve Melton at my favorite studio,
Studio A at Muscle Shoals Sound.
Earlier last year I was invited by Tom Anderson to take part in a musical presentation called
The Glen Allen Express at Glen Allen Elementary School and found some new pals there in the cast.
We had a ball and I went back over there one day to record them singing with me on a tune Rick Darnell and I
had reworked called Oh Catalina. They were rehearsed and ready and did an A+ professional session.
We got 'em on the first take. Then one Saturday morning I was honored to go to the Governor's Mansion
in Richmond and spend a couple of hours with Governor Tim Kaine and his First Lady and son Woody
to record the Governor on harp for a song I wrotewith my neighbor Zeke Sanderson called Election Day.
We played like kids would on a Saturday morning and I'll never forget
how they welcomed me and made me feel at home.
James jumped out and grabbed podnah Delbert for some singing and harp on
Clean Up Your Own House People,a song I made up with my bud Mike Stewart,
and then hookedup with our bubba T. Graham Brown at The Grand Ole Opry for some singing
on Election Day.After singing another song at our hang on Stingray Point and catching Holly Hobbs
on bugle atLibbie Place Seafood, Sound & Lube, James mixed and mastered it all up in his Bonus Room
in Mt. Juliet,and we were done.
What started out as a plan for an evening around the fire at camp turned into a few months of
getting to be with some of my favorite people again in some favorite places and making good music together.
I live for that, and I love and appreciate them all."
While in Michigan performing, Steve Bassett hooked up with new pal
Paul Keller to continue down the road of performing the great American Standards
for the album
"For All We Know"
PAUL KELLER, TOMMY SAUNDERS, STEVE RICHKO, PETE SIERS
"I met Paul Keller and Tommy Saunders on several occasions when my "Cuz" Bill Singleton brought
them to Richmond to perform. Knowing that I was to be in Michigan for a performance, I contacted
Paul and asked him to coproduce an album of some of the songs that Jimmy Black and I had
loved to play. Paul gathered a great band and we had a wonderful time for a couple of days
at Solid Sound Studios in Ann Arbor. It was a beautiful studio and the fellas there
were unbelievable musicians, and really kind to me. We did this one live in the studio.
Paul suggested "St. James Infirmary" and the version on the CD is the first
time I had ever sang the song. I'm really proud to add this album to my collection."
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.
"Boy was that fun! Michelle and her boys (a fabulous bunch of musicians)
and I visited 16 beautiful preserved areas of our home state and played our music
for thousands at the concert stages and at our 'pickers camp' in the campgrounds.
What a great gal and singer she is. I'm looking forward to more music together .
The State Parks folks made us at home everywhere we went,
and we really appreciate that......grilled pork chops at midnight
under the starry skies."
These days Steve Bassett remains busy, performing with his band
The Mystic Soul Bubbas, as a featured entertainer at
special events throughout Virginia,
and as a songwriter and music producer .
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