Andy Simpkins

American jazz bassist who first became known as a member of the group The Three Sounds, with which he performed from 1956 to 1968. After that, until 1974, he was a member of pianist George Shearings group, and from 1979 to 1989 toured with singer Sarah Vaughan. Throughout and after that time, during which he settled in Los Angeles, Simpkins became respected as a top-quality bassist and widely known as a solid and reliable studio musician. He performed with singers Carmen McRae and Anita ODay, instrumentalists Gerald Wiggins, Monty Alexander, Buddy DeFranco, Don Menza, and Stéphane Grappelli, and many others. He recorded three albums as a leader. He also played acoustic bass on the 1997 Cover Album recording, "In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy," by artist Pat Boone. Simpkins died of stomach cancer in Los Angeles on 2 June 1999, aged 67. Link to Wikipedia biography Read less