Bernard Odum
Bernard Odum (June 10, 1932 – August 17, 2004),[1] born Bertrand Odom,[2][3] was an American bass guitar player best known for performing in James Brown's band in the 1960s.
Bernard Odum | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Bertrand Odom |
| Born | June 10, 1932 Greenville, Alabama, U.S. |
| Died | August 17, 2004 (aged 72) Mobile, Alabama, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, funk |
| Occupation(s) | Bassist |
| Instrument(s) | Bass |
Biography
Odum started playing with Brown in 1956 and became a full-time member of Brown's band in 1958. He worked in the James Brown band until the end of the 1960s, and played on such hits as "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" (1965), "I Got You (I Feel Good)" (1965), and "Cold Sweat" (1967).[4]
In 1969, Odum and most of the other musicians in Brown's band walked out on him over a pay dispute and other issues, prompting Brown to create a new backing band, The J.B.'s. In 1970, Odum briefly joined Maceo Parker's group, Maceo & All the King's Men, appearing on the album Doin' Their Own Thing.
Bernard Odum played a 1956 Fender Precision Bass, strung with flatwound strings, throughout most of his career. He also played a Vox "teardrop" bass as well as a 120 watt Westminster 1x18 bass combo amp when Brown and his band gained an endorsement from Vox towards the end of 1965.[4]
Odum died of kidney failure at the age of 72 in his hometown of Mobile, Alabama.[4]
References
- "Bernard Odum". AllMusic. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
- "Bertrand Odom Obituary (2004)". The Press-Register. August 23, 2004. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
- "Rants and Raves: "Killer bees" now buzzing in Alabama". The Montgomery Advisor. August 28, 2004. p. 5A.
- "James Brown's Bassists Archived 2010-04-17 at the Wayback Machine". March 2005. Bass Player. Retrieved on June 17, 2008.