The Godfather Of the Bass Guitar: Robert Wilson of the GAP Band

#bass #history #analysis #funk #rnb #paulthompson
In this video, I analyze one of my favorite bass lines from one of my favorite songs by the legendary GAP Band and the late, great bassist Robert Wilson. I'll analyze this amazing song, debunk the myth that he played a 5-string on this track, and break down each amazing bass fill he plays after the bridge. Get ready to MOVE!

Instagram @pdbass74

[brendawilson]

I’m Robert’s Widow And I Approve This Video and Just So U No He Didn’t Read Music 🎶 He Played By Ear Robert Was A Amazing Musician and Very Underrated For His Talent……………. ❤️

[robinwilson]

I want to appreciate you for doing this, Robert Wilson is my father and I often feel he had been forgotten about…lost my uncle Ronnie in November of last year just so happens the song you have as topic was written by him…thank you thank you very much

[itslbabywilson]

R.I.P to my Father Robert Lynn Wilson "Godfather of Bass" 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿 thank you for this, It made my day ♥️

[JRouben]

I was the recording and mixing engineer on Yearning. Thank you for acknowledging Robert's unique playing style, he was truly an original. A sweet memory I have from those days was when after I finished mixing Yearning, Robert asked me to make him a cassette of the mix. He put the tape in his boom box and went into the lobby of the studio. For the rest of the day, he played that track over and over and over, smiling like a young kid so proud of his accomplishment.

[wegap]

I’m so glad someone is giving Robert his flowers as an amazingly creative bassist.

[HOTBOXXXstevioHIP]

To the Wilson family (all of them) : The bass was the reason I loved The Gap Band so much. EACH AND EVERY SONG HAD A MEMORABLE BASS LINE & LICKS that have stood the test of time. As a testament, 2013, I played 🎹 in Japan for a band name PATTON LEATHA. Our fire🔥set was ALL GAPS, Outstanding, Dropped a Bomb, Shake, Party Train, Yearnin for your love, Oops Upside your head, and finished with Early in the morning. THE DANCE FLOOR STAYED PACKED EVERYTIME WE PLAYED THESE SONGS. EVERYTIME. I never felt they received the deserved credit or accolades for ALL of the HITS they created. THEY WERE A BRAND before brands were talked about. I've only been to Tulsa once while touring with Envogue & MC Hammer in 1990, but I will say, Tulsa showed NOTHIN' BUT LOVE. Gotta say THANK YOU TO THE WILSON FAMILY for helping to make my musical life something worth living. Note: saw The Gaps in San Francisco in the 80's. Rogar & Zap & Rufus & Chaka Khan opened for THE GAPS. And they were both great shows. BUT WHEN THE BRAND...THE GAP BAND HIT.... IT WAS ICONIC
...LEVEL AUTOMATICALLY RAISED AND THEY TURNED IT TOTALLY OUT. I witnessed the GREATNESS OF THE GAP BAND🏅🏆🏆🏆🏅

[transtremm]

A great bass player, but also is he was a fantastic singer! The vocal harmonies the Gap Band produced were perfections and genre defining.

[RaiderClarke]

Nice to see somebody talk about the
Role Robert Wilson has in Bass Community.

[j.d.b.]

I love that you focus on the fact that Robert Wilson dropped out. Space, space, space. I love when bass players do that because when they come back in, it means something! I remember this song clearly and being drawn in by the low B. This song and a few others is what made me buy a 5 string bass. I wanted that low B (but without changing the tuning on a 4). I relish how Wilson is so deep in the pocket. And I also think this is where Raphael Saadiq got his inspiration for his bassline in D'Angelo's "Lady" Deep in the pocket with some scrumptious space between the notes. Great job once again! Your channel is great!

[michael_caz_nyc]

I love the Gap Band. I truly think the song "Outstanding" is one of the greatest R&B songs ever written. It has that classic: Killer Bassline, gorgeous vocals, horns. "It's a Vibe" - always loved Uncle Charlie Wilson's vocals too. oNe LovE from NYC

[DaveZula]

What a great song. I had no idea about that tuning. I always assumed it was a 5 string. ✌️❤️

[catboyzee]

Yearning for Your Love should be required listening for all R&B bass players. Its an absolute master class on tone, taste, space, knowledge of harmony, timing, and placement. Respect and RIP to Robert Wilson (bass guitar) and Ronnie Wilson (keyboards, synth bass, vocals, & trumpet).

[ronaldburns]

would love to see you feature marvin isley / germaine jackson

[Below-Average_Joe]

PD, you may just have the best bass channel on YouTube. Thank you so much for honoring the great Robert Wilson. As an 18 year in 1978, I knew he was special when I heard their song, “Shake.” I know Victor Wooten said the plucked and scatted solo on that song really open his mind. Speaking of that, “Open Up Your Mind (Wide”, ) is another great bass track from that album.

[index]

It is sooo nice to have someone acknowledge the unsung African-American bassist that created some of the most memorable lines in R&B and jazz music!

[dwtn]

A great video on a great song! Everything you’d pointed out is good to know. I’m glad there’s a channel that recognizes bass players like Robert Wilson. Rest Easy, Mr. Wilson.

[damonreynolds]

One of my lifetime favorite songs. Brought a tear to my eye as many of your videos do. The memories of this great music just comes flooding back, this time broken down with technical and personal information about the masters who created them. I had NO IDEA this was 'just' a detuned P bass.
Thank you so very much for this, and I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on the late great Mark Adams of Slave - simply one of the nastiest most unique funkmasters of the 80s, and a tremendous influence as well. Turn Up Those Party Lites!!

[edennard]

My favorite Robert Wilson Bass line is
DJ Roger’s Say you love me again.. and I actually thought that he and Bobby Watson of Rufus were very similar in their approach to the instrument. As in tuning down to BEDG most of us old heads did that and use a Boss Octavier because there really wasn’t a 5 string bass around at that time ( although Jimmy Johnson was playing a 5 string Alembic around that time a bass that he still plays today ) and a lot of cats didn’t play Synth bass either although I started playing it because the music was moving in that direction… This is a great channel.. I tune into it almost every day.

[FunkymetalBL]

The Gap Band was my very first concert at 17 years old in the summer of 1984. I’ve seen over a hundred bands live since, and not one has matched the energy, musicianship and showmanship of The Gap Band. They were an absolute force of nature, nonstop funk and groove. I remember sitting there when it was over just awestruck looking at the smoke coming off that stage. They were just on fire 🔥. Such an incredible band and I’ll always have a memory of Robert dancing and playing on that Providence Civic Center stage like a true master musician, just a total legend on the bass. Great video! 🙏🏼 👍🏼

[MarkHenry-cowt]

Man this brother is still all that I will thank God for blessing him to be a big factor in the music world