Jerry Scheff

Jerry Scheff

Jerry Scheff in 2013
Background information
Birth name Jerry Obern Scheff
Born (1941-01-31) January 31, 1941
Denver, Colorado, United States
Genres Rock and roll, R&B, pop, Jazz
Occupation(s) Musician
Instruments
Years active 1958-present
Associated acts Elvis Presley, TCB Band, The Doors, Elvis Costello
Website www.jerryscheff.com

Jerry Obern Scheff (born January 31, 1941) is an American bassist, best known for his work with Elvis Presley in the 1960s and 1970s as a member of his TCB Band and his work on The Doors' final recordings.

Scheff grew up in the San Francisco Bay area. After serving in the U.S. Navy he returned to California, ending up in Los Angeles as a session musician. After working at the Sands night club in Los Angeles with 16-year-old Billy Preston, Merry Clayton, and Don "Sugarcane" Harris, he played on his first hit record, The Association's "Along Comes Mary" (1966).[1] That success led to other early record appearances with Bobby Sherman, Johnny Mathis, Johnny Rivers, Neil Diamond, Nancy Sinatra, Pat Boone, Sammy Davis Jr., Bobby Vinton, The Monkees, The Everly Brothers, and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. In 1971, he appeared on L.A. Woman, the final album recorded by The Doors with Jim Morrison,[2] playing bass on every track.[3]

In July 1969, Scheff became a member of Elvis Presley's touring TCB Band. With the band, he performed in concert with Presley from July 1969 to February 1973 and from April 1975 until Presley's final show on June 26, 1977 at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis. He appears on Aloha from Hawaii (Elvis' 1973 live television concert), "Back In Memphis", That's The Way It Is, Elvis As Recorded At Madison Square Garden, the documentary movie from 1972 Elvis On Tour, and Moody Blue, among others.

In later years, Scheff worked with Willy DeVille, Bob Dylan, John Denver, Elvis Costello, The Doors, Sam Phillips, Richard Thompson, and many other artists.[1] Scheff also was a bassist for Southern Pacific on their debut album. He also participated in the 1987 cable television concert Roy Orbison and Friends, A Black and White Night. In June 2009 he gave a sold out performance in Breda, Netherlands with the remaining TCB bandmembers. Scheff has stopped touring with the TCB band due to creative and cultural differences.

Scheff has three sons: Jason, Darin, and Lauren Scheff.[4] Jason has been the bassist for the band Chicago since 1985. He co-wrote the song "Bigger Than Elvis" as a tribute to his father, featuring himself on vocals and Jerry on the bass guitar. As of 2010, he splits his time between his native California and his home in a small village in Northumberland, England with his wife Natalie.

Scheff wrote the 2012 musical autobiography titled Way Down: Playing Bass with Elvis, Dylan, the Doors, and More: The Autobiography of Jerry Scheff.[1]

In 2013 and 2014, Scheff performed two concerts in Birmingham (UK) with the singer Janson Bloomer, playing the greatest hits of Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, and the Doors.

Discography

Bibliography

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Scheff, Jerry (2012). Way Down: Playing Bass with Elvis, Dylan, the Doors, and More (book) (1st ed.). Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Backbeat Books. ISBN 9781617130328. OCLC 752067800. Lay summary – BlogCritics (March 29, 2012).
  2. ↑ Album Liner notes for L.A. Woman by The Doors [DVD-A booklet]. Elektra (62612-9); in 2000 Liner notes
  3. ↑ http://www.goldminemag.com/article/robby-krieger-reopens-the-door-to-the-‘l-a-woman’-sessions
  4. ↑ Jerry Scheff entry @Google.com (see right-hand side, next to "Children:" Retrieved 6-4-2016.
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