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23 minutes ago
- Entertainment
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Legendary '60s Musician Refuses Rock Hall Honor Over ‘Insulting' Label
Legendary '60s Musician Refuses Rock Hall Honor Over 'Insulting' Label originally appeared on Parade. Iconic musician Carol Kaye is skipping this year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony — and she's not holding back about why. Kaye, 90, reportedly explained in a Facebook post that she's turning down the honor because the event doesn't properly represent the legacy of studio musicians during her era. 'NO I won't be there,' she wrote. 'I am declining the awards show… turning it down because it wasn't something that reflects the work that Studio Musicians do and did in the golden era of the 1960s Recording Hits.' She also voiced frustration over the Hall referring to her as part of the 'Wrecking Crew,' a label she's long rejected. 'You are always part of a TEAM, not a solo artist at all,' she wrote. 'There were always 350–400 Studio Musicians… I was never a 'wrecker' at all… that's a terrible, insulting name.' Shortly after her induction was announced, Kaye doubled down in the comments, saying, 'Please know our only name was Studio Musicians,' and added she wasn't sure if she could tolerate being labeled a 'wrecker' to attend the event. Although Kaye is opting out, the Hall will still induct her. A pioneering bassist with more than 10,000 recording credits, Kaye helped shape the sound of popular music behind the scenes, performing on hits by The Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, Simon & Garfunkel and The Supremes — just to name a few. In her post, she also reflected on her unconventional rise to fame. Originally a jazz guitarist, she was invited to a recording session in 1957 and accidentally ended up playing bass in 1963 when another musician failed to show. 'I never played bass in my life,' she recalled, but quickly found a knack for inventing catchy bass lines. 'As a jazz musician, you invent every note you play.' Now, despite the honor, Kaye is choosing to stand by her values. 'I refuse to be part of a process that is something else rather than what I believe in… We all enjoyed working with EACH OTHER.' Legendary '60s Musician Refuses Rock Hall Honor Over 'Insulting' Label first appeared on Parade on Jun 19, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
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Carol Kaye Declines Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction
Carol Kaye, one of the most recorded bassists of all time, has declined the invitation to attend this year's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. 'People have been asking: NO I won't be there,' wrote Kaye in a Facebook post shared on Wednesday. 'I am declining the rrhof awards show (and denny tedesco process)…..turning it down because it wasn't something that reflects the work that Studio Musicians do and did in the golden era of the 1960s Recording Hits.' More from Rolling Stone Cyndi Lauper on Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction: 'If You Persist, You Prevail' Warren Zevon's Son Thinks His Dad Would Be Proud to Enter the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Guitarist Kim Thayil on Soundgarden's Hall of Fame Induction: 'Chris Cornell Would Be Proud' During the Sixties and Seventies, Kaye became part of a group of session musicians known as the Wrecking Crew, a collective often called upon by the Beach Boys, Phil Spector, the Monkees, and more. However, in her post, the 90-year-old musician criticized the group's name, while emphasizing the collaborative nature of studio musicians. '[Y]ou are always part of a TEAM, not a solo artist at all….there were always 350-400 Studio Musicians (AFM Local 47 Hollywood) working in the busy 1960s, and called that ONLY ….since 1930s, I was never a 'wrecker' at all….that's a terrible insulting name,' she wrote. While Kaye featured in Denny Tedesco's 2008 documentary, The Wrecking Crew, she has long objected to the name, stating that the collective didn't use it and that drummer Hal Blaine was the one who dubbed the group. 'Just so you know, as a working Jazz musician (soloing jazz guitar work) in the 1950s working since 1949, I was accidentally asked to record records by producer Bumps Blackwell in 1957, got into recording good music, w/Sam Cooke, other artists and then accidentally placed on Fender Precision Bass mid 1963 when someone didn't show,' Kaye continued. 'I never played bass in my life but being an experienced recording guitarist, it was plain to see that 3 bass players hired to play 'dum-de-dum' on record dates, wasn't getting it…..it was easy for me to invent good bass lines…..as a Jazz musician, you invent every note you play……and they used a lot of Jazz musicians (and former big-band experienced musicians on all those rock and pop dates too).' The famed bassist ended her note by declaring, 'I refuse to be part of a process that is something else rather than what I believe in, for others' benefit and not reflecting on the truth – we all enjoyed working with EACH OTHER.' Kaye was set to receive the Musical Excellence Award at the 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Nov. 8 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. Other inductees this year include Bad Company, Chubby Checker, Joe Cocker, Cyndi Lauper, OutKast, Soundgarden, and the White Stripes. Best of Rolling Stone Sly and the Family Stone: 20 Essential Songs The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked
