Willie Basse

Wilber Cornelius Rice, Jr. ((1956-08-06)August 6, 1956 – (2018-10-28)October 28, 2018), known by the stage name Willie Basse, was an American hard rock vocalist, bassist, music producer, engineer and songwriter. He was the frontman for Black Sheep, a 1980s metal band that featured a number of noteworthy musicians throughout its line-up changes.[2] The last known line-up consisted of Basse on bass, Marshall Harrison and Brian Conroy on guitars, and James Kottak on drums.[3] Other members included Slash,[4] Paul Gilbert, Randy Castillo, Kurt James , Ed DeGenaro, Kyle Harrison, Randy Meers, Mitch Perry and Patrick Abbate.[5] In 1985, the band released a full-length album, "Trouble In The Streets", on William and Wesley Hein's Enigma Records[6] for which Billboard Magazine noted Basse as the producer.[7] Their EP "Sacrifice"[8] was released on Quicksilver in 1999.

Willie Basse
Background information
Born(1956-08-06)August 6, 1956
Odessa, Texas, United States
DiedOctober 28, 2018(2018-10-28) (aged 62)[1]
GenresHard rock, heavy metal
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter, producer, engineer, actor
Instrument(s)Vocals, bass, guitar, drums
LabelsNew Empire Media / Rocks Cool Records
Websitewilliebasse.com

Early career

Basse says he began performing at the age of five. From the age of 10 to 15, he says he received classical training as a member of the Texas Boys Choir in Fort Worth, Texas. TBC performed with Igor Stravinsky, Greg Smith (choir director) and Burl Ives who were both on the Columbia label.[9] TBC's performances with Smith and Ives received Grammy Awards in 1966[10] and 1968.[11] "A Time Of Waking",[12] an award-winning documentary about the choir's principles and work ethic, premiered in 1969.[13] The choir performed at Carnegie Hall, St. Patrick's Cathedral (Manhattan) and Radio City Music Hall.

By 1976, Basse had moved from Fort Worth to Los Angeles where he is said to have met Record Plant founder, Gary Kellgren. According to his bio, Basse toured and recorded with Buddy Miles and later worked with Andy Johns, whom he met through Kellgren. Known for hosting wild parties at his North Hollywood rehearsal studio, he labeled his rock and roll lifestyle the "Sunset Strip Era". Many of those stories are recounted in the "Tales From The Sunset Strip"[14] podcasts. According to Basse, his office and printing press even supplied flyers to Poison, Warrant, Tuff, Jade, Bang Tango, Pretty Boy Floyd during that time.

Other projects

Basse has worn many hats during his career. He has worked as an audio engineer & producer, a corporate C.E.O, studio owner, and actor who played the part of a studio engineer in "The One Where Eddie Moves In" episode of Friends,[15] also known as the "Smelly Cat" episode. As an officer and member of the Jimi Hendrix Foundation, a charitable organization, Basse has a three-fold task. In March 2015, he became the Resource Committee's VP of Marketing and Celebrity Spokesperson[16] and for several years has played with The Gypsy Experience, a legacy band sponsored by the foundation.[17] Other charity work includes Cruefest and The Skylar Neil Foundation,[18] as well as Feed America – Now and Rock For Recovery. Basse is a past member of Snew and he has worked with George Lynch,[19] Slash, Stephen Stills, James Kottak, Paul Gilbert, Rob Grill, Kyle Harrison, JK Northrup, Jeff Pilson, Vinnie Appice, Carmine Appice and Canned Heat.

Discography
  • 1968 Texas Boys Choir, "The Glory of Gabrieli", Columbia Sony/BMG (#78762), 1st, 2nd Alto
  • 1985 Black Sheep, "Trouble" in the Streets", Enigma (#72071), Artist
  • 1997 Terry Ilous, "Cage",[20] Fyco Records, Engineer
  • 1998 Finis Tasby, "Jump Children",[21] Evidence Music/Delta Groove, Engineer
  • 1999 Black Sheep, "II Sacrifice", Rock's Cool Records (#07772), Artist/Producer/Engineer
  • 1999 Canned Heat, "Boogie 2000",[22][23] Ruf Records (#45327), Engineer
  • Canned Heat, "Let's Work Together", Target TV Commercial, Engineer
  • 2001 Frank Goldwasser, "Bluju",[24] Delta Groove Productions, Engineer
  • 2007 Terry Ilous, "Here and Gone", Fyco Records, Engineer
  • 2008 Willie Basse, "The Money Grind", New Empire Media, Inc (#67026), Artist/Engineer
  • 2010 Willie Basse, "Break Away",[25][26] Rock's Cool Music Publishing, New Empire Media, Inc. Artist/Engineer/Co-Producer with Andy Johns
  • 2010 Willie Basse, "Which Side R/U On?", New Empire Media, Inc., Artist/Engineer/Producer
  • 2012 Willie Basse, "Someone Like U", New Empire Media, Inc. , Artist/Engineer/Producer
  • 2012 Snew, "What's It To Ya", Hydrant Records Japan, Bass
  • 2013 Willie Basse, "Stop! (In the Name of Love)", New Empire Media, Inc. , Artist
  • 2013 Willie Basse, "Tears Are Falling", Rock's Cool Records, Artist/Producer

References
  1. "RIP: Willie Basse, Legendary 'Ambassador to the Sunset Strip' Dies from Cancer at 62". 29 October 2018.
  2. "Black Sheep". Racer X Online. Racer X Online. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  3. "Black Sheep Last Known Lineup". Encyclopaedia Metallum The Metal Archives. Encyclopaedia Metallum.
  4. "Slash's Early Bands". Slash Paradise. Slash Paradise. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  5. http://www.patrickabbate.com
  6. "Kill From The Heart Enigma Records Discography". Kill From The Heart. Chris Hubbard. Archived from the original on January 25, 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. "Reviews". Billboard Magazine. 97 (45): 78. 9 Nov 1985. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  8. "Sacrifice" Black Sheep Album Info". All Music. Media Network LLC. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  9. "Col. Bows Catalog, Yule Drive". Billboard Magazine: 3. 23 Nov 1968.
  10. "1966 Grammy Nominees". Grammy.com. The Recording Academy. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  11. "1968 Grammy Nominees". Grammy.com. The Recording Academy. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  12. "A Time For Waking (part 2)Texas Boys Choir Documentary". YouTube.com. YouTube. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  13. "Boy Choir Past, Present and Future". Boy Choir. Boychoirs.org. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  14. "Willie Basse 'Tales From The Sunset Strip' Interviews James Kottak and Scott Page (Pink Floyd/Supertramp)". Twin Cast. Twin Talk. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  15. "The One Where Eddie Moves In Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Amazon.com. Retrieved 21 June 2015.
  16. "About Us". The Jimi Hendrix Foundation. The Jimi Hendrix Foundation. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  17. "Home Page". The Gypsy Experience. The Jimi Hendrix Foundation. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
  18. "Cruefest Hollywood 2011 Press Conference Benefit For The Skylar Neil Foundation". YouTube.com. YouTube. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  19. "Lynch Mob Concert Review - February 2011". Jam Magazine Online. Jam Magazine. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  20. "Cage - Cage" (1997) Album Review". Rock & Review. Rock'n'Reviews. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
  21. "Jump Children! CD Music Product Description". CD Universe. CD Universe, Muze Inc.
  22. "1999/2009 Official Releases Downloadable Discography" (PDF). Canned Heat Music. Canned Heat. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  23. De la Parra, Adolfo (June 9, 2011). Living The Blues Canned Heat's Story of Music, Drugs, Sex, Death and Survival (Third Edition, Revised ed.). eBook: eBookit.com. p. 375. ISBN 9781456603328.
  24. "Product Description, Delta Groove Store". Delta Groove Productions. Delta Groove Store. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
  25. "George Lynch To Guest On New Willie Basse Album". Blabbermouth.net. Blabbermouth.net. 15 March 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  26. "BMI Repertoire Publishing Information". BMI. BMI. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
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