1959
Jamerson Legacy and La Bella Flats
This musical connection between Jamerson’s iconic Fender P Bass and La Bella strings solidified the iconic “Sound” that so many bass players today still consider the gold standard.
Beginning in late 1959, Jamerson started recording at Berry Gordy’s Hitsville U.S.A. studio, the future center of Motown Records. Jamerson contributed to some of the label’s earliest releases, including Smokey Robinson’s “Way Over There” (1959), and became a key member of Gordy’s hand-selected, largely uncredited house band, the Funk Brothers. In 1961, Jamerson was encouraged to try the electric bass. Although uncertain about transitioning from double bass, Jamerson soon adapted to the electric bass’s slimmer profile. Bringing his jazz sensibilities with him, he quickly established himself as one of the city’s most sought-after electric bass players.
During this time, the La Bella family’s connection with Leo Fender began with a personal delivery of a gross of guitar and flatwound bass strings to Fender’s renowned factory in Fullerton, California. What began as a simple exchange would become part of a much larger story—one that helped shape the sound of the electric bass and, ultimately, popular music itself. Leo Fender later acknowledged that the combination of his basses and La Bella strings had helped shape the tone that defined an era.
We were there in 1972 when James Jamerson appeared in a rare TV appearance with Marvin Gaye performing his hit “What’s going on”.
Richard Cocco
He was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2007. Jamerson’s original 1961 Fender Precision Bass is now on permanent display at the Musicians Hall of Fame located at 401 Gay St, Nashville, Tennessee 37219 where you can see up close the love and wear throughout this monumental instrument.
So monumental that The Fender Musical Instruments Corporation has recently released the Jamerson Model including our famous La Bella 0760 Deep Talkin’ Flatwounds on every one.
