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Andy Simpkins

American jazz bassist (1932-1999)

Andrew Simpkins (April 29, 1932, June 2, 1999) was an American jazz bassist.

Born in Richmond, Indiana, he 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 Shearing's 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 O'Day, 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 covers album In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy by artist Pat Boone.

Simpkins died of stomach cancer in Los Angeles.

01Discography

With The Three Sounds

With Pat Boone

  • In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy (Hip-O, 1997)

With Kenny Burrell

With Benny Carter

With Natalie Cole

With Teddy Edwards

With Victor Feldman

With Barbara Morrison

  • Visit Me (Chartmaker, 1999)

With Robert Palmer

With Lalo Schifrin

With George Shearing and Stéphane Grappelli

With Mary Stallings

  • Spectrum (Concord, 1996)

With The Temptations

With Toni Tennille

  • More Than You Know (Mirage, 1984)
  • Do It Again (USA Music Group, 1988)

With Sarah Vaughan

With Joe Williams and George Shearing

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Sources and credits

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