Johnnie Bassett
October 9, 1935 – August 4, 2012
Johnnie Bassett was an American electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter who, over the course of a career that spanned some 60 years, worked as a band leader as well as an in-demand session player for many of music’s biggest names. The list of those that the self-taught guitarist played with includes B.B.King, T-Bone Walker, John Lee Hooker, Smokey Robinson, and Ruth Brown. After moving from Florida to Detroit during the mid ’40s, Bassett began making a name for himself at area talent shows and backing local singers. After a stint in the Army, he found work back in Detroit as a session player for the great Fortune Records and later, Chess Records. It was while at Chess that Barrett played on The Miracles’ first single, 1958’s “Get A Job.” He eventually found himself in Seattle where he played with Ike & Tina Turner and Little Willie John. He also ran with a young local up-and-coming guitarist by the name of Jimi Hendrix. Bassett landed back in Detroit where, during the mid ’90s, he began releasing his own albums. His last album was the excellent I Can Make That Happen, released just a few weeks before he passed away. Johnnie Bassett died of cancer on August 4, 2012. He was 76.
Thanks to Harold Lepidus for the assist.
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