Robert Lee "Pops" Popwell (December 29, 1950 – November 27, 2017) was an American jazz-funk bass guitarist and percussionist.

Career

Known as "Pops", he played with The Young Rascals, The Crusaders and the Macon Rhythm Section. The Young Rascals were inducted into the

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), sometimes simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and othe ...

May 6, 1997. They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2005. He has played on albums by

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, George Benson, Ron Wood,

Al Jarreau Alwin Lopez Jarreau (March 12, 1940 – February 12, 2017) was an American singer and musician. His 1981 album '' Breakin' Away'' spent two years on the ''Billboard'' 200 and is considered one of the finest examples of the Los Angeles pop and R ...

, Bobby Womack, Terry Bradds,

Larry Carlton Larry Eugene Carlton (born March 2, 1948) is an American guitarist who built his career as a studio musician in the 1970s and 1980s for acts such as Steely Dan and Joni Mitchell. He has participated in thousands of recording sessions, recorde ...

, Joe Sample,

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, Gregg Allman, Bob Dylan,

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, Les Dudek and Randy Crawford, among others. Most notably he played percussion on Aretha Franklin's Rock Steady. He has also toured with

and Olivia Newton-John. Popwell appeared in the movie '' Hard to Hold'' with Rick Springfield. Featured in the 1982 ''Olivia Newton-John, Live'' concert video. Co-writer of "Boy Meets World" with Rap star Erick Sermon. Also wrote "Feelin Funky" on The Crusaders album ''

Those Southern Knights ''Those Southern Knights'' is a 1976 studio album by The Crusaders. It peaked at number 38 on the ''Billboard'' Top LPs chart, as well as number 9 on the Soul LPs chart and number 2 on the Top Jazz LPs chart. It includes "Keep That Same Old F ...

''. Popwell died in Lebanon, Tennessee, at the age of 66. He was survived by his wife and three children.

Discography

*1969: ''I'm a Loser'' - Doris Duke *1970: ''Johnny Jenkins'' -

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*1970: '' Livingston Taylor'' - Livingston Taylor *1971: ''Liv'' - Livingston Taylor *1972: ''The Island Of Real'' − The Rascals *1972: '' Young, Gifted and Black'' -

*1973: ''In Between Tears'' - Irma Thomas *1974: ''Southern Comfort'' - The Crusaders *1976: ''

'' - The Crusaders *1976: '' Everything Must Change'' - Randy Crawford *1977: '' Eddie Money'' - Eddie Money *1977: ''Free As the Wind'' - The Crusaders *1977: '' Lisa Dal Bello'' - Lisa Dal Bello *1978: ''Images'' - The Crusaders *1978: ''

Midnight Believer ''Midnight Believer'' is the twenty-fifth studio blues album by B.B. King, released in 1978 on ABC Records. The album reached No. 27 on the '' Billboard'' Top Soul Albums chart. Overview ''Midnight Believer'' was produced by Stewart Levine. Ar ...

'' - B.B. King *1978: ''Letta'' -

Letta Mbulu Letta Mbulu (born 23 August 1942) is a South African jazz singer who has been active since the 1960s. Biography Born and raised in Soweto, South Africa, she has been active as a singer since the 1960s. While still a teenager she toured with th ...

*1979: ''

Gimme Some Neck ''Gimme Some Neck'' is the third solo album by English musician Ronnie Wood, released in 1979. It was a minor hit and his best performance on the US charts to date, peaking at number 45 on ''Billboard'' during a 13-week chart run. The album artw ...

'' - Ron Wood *1979: ''Praying Spirit'' - Gloster Williams and Master Control *1979: '' Livin' Inside Your Love'' - George Benson *1980: ''Strikes Twice'' -

*1981: ''

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'' -

Brenda Russell Brenda Russell (née Gordon; born April 8, 1949) is an American singer-songwriter, producer, and keyboardist. Russell has a diverse musical range which encompasses R&B, pop, soul, dance, and jazz. She has received five Grammy nominations. Li ...

*1982: ''Baked potato Superlive!'' - The Greg Mathieson Project *1983: '' No Frills'' -

*1990: ''Collection'' - Larry Carlton *2006: ''Sumner Sessions'' - Terry Bradds *2007: ''Master Hands'' - Terry Bradds *2009: ''Touch of Spice'' - Terry Bradds and Nioshi Jackson

References

External links

* *
Robert Popwell
at the Macon Rhythm Section {{DEFAULTSORT:Popwell, Robert 1950 births 2017 deaths American rock bass guitarists American jazz bass guitarists American funk bass guitarists American male bass guitarists American rhythm and blues bass guitarists African-American jazz musicians The Rascals members 20th-century American bass guitarists 20th-century African-American musicians American male jazz musicians The Crusaders members People from Daytona Beach, Florida