Bass player Jerry Scheff is a
native of San Francisco, and originally he got his start
playing in jazz clubs in the Bay Area at the age of 15.
Following a three-year stint as a musician in the U.S.
Navy, Scheff joined jazz guitarist Barney Kessel in Los
Angeles. After achieving a successful debut as a jazz
string bassist, he decided to seek out session work
instead in the pop/rock world, in which there were ample
opportunities for work in the Los Angeles of the early
'60s. With his appearance on "Along Comes Mary," a hit
by vocal group the Association, the demand for Scheff's
services increased considerably. In the following years,
he worked for the Everly Brothers, Nancy Sinatra, Johnny
Rivers, Neil Diamond, Sammy Davis, Jr., Johnny Mathis,
and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, among others. In 1971,
Scheff recorded bass parts for the Doors' L.A. Woman,
leading to his distinctly recognizable contribution to
the hit record "Riders on the Storm."
About this time, Scheff became a member of Elvis
Presley's touring band, and he can be seen performing in
the documentary films Elvis: That's the Way It Is (1970)
and Elvis on Tour (1972) and in the TV concert Aloha
from Hawaii (1973). Though Scheff had been no fan of
Elvis prior to meeting "the King," Presley's artistry
won him over in short order, and Scheff would continue
to work with Presley until his death. Afterward, Scheff
toured with Bob Dylan and played on the acclaimed album
Street Legal (1978) in addition to session work with
Johnny Cash and Richard Thompson; in the '70s and '80s
he toured with Elvis Costello, Sam Phillips, and John
Denver. Scheff also appeared with Roy Orbison and
friends on the TV concert A Black and White Night
(1987). Both of Scheff's sons are musicians, with son
Jason Scheff holding down the bass guitar spot in the
band Chicago since 1985.
Jerry Scheff continues to tour and record.
(from All guide music) |