Robert C. Bushnell (1926 – January 31, 2016) was an American bass player and guitarist who has appeared on dozens of albums and singles as a studio musician, including Bobby Lewis's hit " Tossin' and Turnin'" (1961), " My Boyfriend's Back" by The Angels (1963), " Under the Boardwalk" by

The Drifters The Drifters are several American doo-wop and R&B/ soul vocal groups. They were originally formed as a backing group for Clyde McPhatter, formerly the lead tenor of Billy Ward and his Dominoes in 1953. The second group of Drifters, formed i ...

(1964) and the remixed hit version of

Simon and Garfunkel Simon & Garfunkel were an American folk rock duo consisting of the singer-songwriter Paul Simon and the singer Art Garfunkel. They were one of the best-selling music groups of the 1960s, and their biggest hits—including the electric remix of ...

's " The Sound of Silence" (1965). Bushnell was born in

West Philadelphia West Philadelphia, nicknamed West Philly, is a section of the city of Philadelphia. Alhough there are no officially defined boundaries, it is generally considered to reach from the western shore of the Schuylkill River, to City Avenue to the nort ...

and attended Sulzberger Junior High School where he first learned how to play bass fiddle. He graduated from

West Philadelphia High School West Philadelphia High School is a secondary school located in the West Philadelphia section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the intersection of 49th Street and Chestnut Street. History The original West Philadelphia High School (WPHS) building ...

in 1945 and left for New York City shortly thereafter. He played occasionally with Jimmy Heath's band in the late 1940s, coinciding with

John Coltrane John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist, bandleader and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Born and raise ...

. He played in the first house band at Philadelphia's Club 421, a lineup led by Charlie Rice, and featuring Vance Wilson,

Red Garland William McKinley "Red" Garland Jr. (May 13, 1923 – April 23, 1984) was an American modern jazz pianist. Known for his work as a bandleader and during the 1950s with Miles Davis, Garland helped popularize the block chord style of playing in j ...

, and Johnny Hughes.''Encyclopedia of Jazz Musicians''
Retrieved 29 April 2013. He went on to become a member of

Louis Jordan Louis Thomas Jordan (July 8, 1908 – February 4, 1975) was an American saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and bandleader who was popular from the late 1930s to the early 1950s. Known as " the King of the Jukebox", he earned his high ...

's bands (both the Orchestra and his Tympany Five). In 1952, he married the band's vocalist, Elaine Dash Robinson, with whom he later formed a group.

Discography

As sideman

With

Gene Ammons Eugene "Jug" Ammons (April 14, 1925 – August 6, 1974), also known as "The Boss", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. The son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons, Gene Ammons is remembered for his accessible music, steeped in soul and ...

* ''

The Boss Is Back! ''The Boss Is Back!'' is an album by saxophonist Gene Ammons recorded in 1969 and released on the Prestige label.Brother Jug! ''Brother Jug!'' is an album by saxophonist Gene Ammons recorded in 1969 and released on the Prestige label.Billy Butler * ''This Is Billy Butler!'' (Prestige, 1969) * '' Guitar Soul!'' (Prestige, 1969) * ''Night Life'' (Prestige, 1971) With others * Casey Anderson, ''The Bag I'm In'' (Atco, 1962) *

Eric Andersen Eric Andersen (born February 14, 1943) is an American folk music singer-songwriter, who has written songs recorded by Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Linda Ronstadt, the Grateful Dead and many others. Early in his career, in the 1960s, he ...

, ''More Hits from Tin Can Alley'' (Vanguard, 1968) *

George Benson George Washington Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 19 as a jazz guitarist. A former child prodigy, Benson first came to prominence in the 1960s, play ...

, '' Tell It Like It Is'' (A&M, 1969) *

Rusty Bryant Royal Gordon "Rusty" Bryant (November 25, 1929 – March 25, 1991) was an American jazz tenor and alto saxophonist. Biography Bryant was born in Huntington, West Virginia, and grew up in Columbus, Ohio, becoming a fixture of the local jazz scen ...

, ''

Rusty Bryant Returns ''Rusty Bryant Returns'' is an album by jazz saxophonist Rusty Bryant recorded for the Prestige label in 1969.Solomon Burke Solomon Vincent McDonald Burke (born James Solomon McDonald, March 21, 1936 or 1940 – October 10, 2010) was an American singer who shaped the sound of rhythm and blues as one of the founding fathers of soul music in the 1960s. He has been ...

, ''If You Need Me'' (Atlantic, 1963) * Solomon Burke, ''King Solomon'' (Atlantic, 1968) * Lincoln Chase, ''Lincoln Chase 'n You'' (Paramount, 1973) *

King Curtis Curtis Ousley (born Curtis Montgomery; February 7, 1934 – August 13, 1971), known professionally as King Curtis, was an American saxophonist who played rhythm and blues, jazz, and rock and roll. A bandleader, band member, and session musician ...

, ''Old Gold'' (Tru-Sound, 1961) *

Dizzy Gillespie John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy Eldridge but a ...

, ''

It's My Way ''It's My Way!'' is the first album by folk musician and songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie. It was released in April 1964 by Vanguard Records. It was later released in Britain in the spring of 1965 by Fontana Records. Though the album did not chart, ...

'' ( Solid State, 1969) *

Tim Hardin James Timothy Hardin (December 23, 1941 – December 29, 1980) was an American folk and blues musician and composer. As well as releasing his own material, several of his songs, including " If I Were a Carpenter" and "Reason to Believe", beca ...

, ''

Tim Hardin 1 ''Tim Hardin 1'' is the debut album by folk artist Tim Hardin, released in 1966 on Verve Records. History ''Tim Hardin 1'' contains one of his most well-known and frequently covered songs, " Reason to Believe"a notable hit for Rod Stewart in 1971 ...

'' (Verve, 1966) *

Johnny Hodges Cornelius "Johnny" Hodges (July 25, 1907 – May 11, 1970) was an American alto saxophonist, best known for solo work with Duke Ellington's big band. He played lead alto in the saxophone section for many years. Hodges was also featured on soprano ...

Wild Bill Davis Wild Bill Davis (November 24, 1918 – August 17, 1995) was the stage name of American jazz pianist, organist, and arranger William Strethen Davis. He is best known for his pioneering jazz electric organ recordings and for his tenure with t ...

, ''Joe's Blues (Johnny Hodges and Wild Bill Davis album), Joe's Blues'' (Verve, 1965) * Johnny Hodges & Wild Bill Davis, ''Blue Pyramid (Johnny Hodges and Wild Bill Davis album), Blue Pyramid'' (Verve, 1966) * Ian & Sylvia, ''So Much for Dreaming'' (Vanguard, 1967) * Janis Ian, ''Who Really Cares (album), Who Really Cares'' (Verve Forecast, 1969) * The Insect Trust, ''Hoboken Saturday Night'' (Atco, 1970) * Willis Jackson (saxophonist), Willis Jackson, ''Smoking with Willis'' (Cadet, 1965) * Willis Jackson, ''Soul Grabber'' (Prestige, 1967) * Etta Jones, ''From the Heart (Etta Jones album), From the Heart'' (Prestige, 1962) * Galt MacDermot, ''Galt MacDermot Conducts Two Gentlemen of Verona'' (Kilmarnock, 1972) * The Manhattan Transfer, ''Jukin''' (Capitol, 1971) * Gary McFarland, ''The In Sound (Gary McFarland album), The In Sound'' (Verve, 1966) * Gary McFarland, ''Tijuana Jazz'' (Impulse!, 1966) * Jimmy McGriff, ''The Worm (album), The Worm'' (Solid State, 1968) * Van Morrison, ''T.B. Sheets'' (Bang, 1973) * Houston Person, ''Goodness!'' (Prestige, 1969) * Houston Person, ''Truth!'' (Prestige, 1970) * Bernard Purdie, ''Soul Drums'' (Date, 1967) * Tom Rush, ''The Circle Game (album), The Circle Game'' (Elektra, 1968) * Jimmy Rushing, ''Every Day I Have the Blues'' (Impulse!, 1967) * Jimmy Rushing, ''Livin' the Blues'' (BluesWay, 1968) * Archie Shepp, ''For Losers'' (Impulse!, 1970) * Archie Shepp, ''Kwanza (album), Kwanza'' (Impulse!, 1974) * Nina Simone, ''Nina Simone Sings the Blues'' (RCA Victor, 1967) * Jimmy Smith (musician), Jimmy Smith, ''Any Number Can Win (album), Any Number Can Win'' (Verve, 1963) * Jimmy Smith, ''Respect'' (Verve, 1967) * Johnny "Hammond" Smith, ''Soul Talk (Johnny "Hammond" Smith album), Soul Talk'' (Prestige, 1969) * Johnny Smith, ''Phase II'' (Verve, 1968) * Sonny Stitt, ''Little Green Apples'' (Solid State, 1969) * Gabor Szabo, ''Jazz Raga'' (Impulse!, 1966) * Gábor Szabó, ''Simpático (Gábor Szabó album), Simpático'' (Impulse!, 1966) * Toots Thielemans, ''Yesterday & Today'' (Universal, 2012) * Cal Tjader, ''Soul Sauce'' (Verve, 1965) * Big Joe Turner, ''Singing the Blues (Big Joe Turner album), Singing the Blues'' (BluesWay, 1967) * Kai Winding, ''Rainy Day (album), Rainy Day'' (Verve, 1965)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bushnell, Bob 1926 births 2016 deaths American jazz double-bassists Male double-bassists Prestige Records artists 21st-century double-bassists 21st-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians