Joe Osborn

Joe Osborn (born 1937 in Mound in Madison Parish in northeastern Louisiana) is an American bass guitar virtuoso, notable for his work as a session musician in Los Angeles and Nashville during the period from the 1960s through the 1980s. Osborn's work is widely admired by fellow musicians.

Osborn began his career working in local clubs, then played on a hit record by the singer Dale Hawkins. He moved to Las Vegas at age 20, and spent a year playing backup for country singer Bob Luman. With legendary guitar player Roy Buchanan among his bandmates, Osborn switched from guitar, his original instrument, to electric bass.

In 1960, Osborn, along with Allen "Puddler" Harris, a native of Franklin Parish, also in northeastern Louisiana, and James Burton, originally from Webster Parish, joined pop star Rick Nelson's backup band, where he spent four years. His playing on such Nelson hits as "Travellin' Man" began attracting wider notice, and he found opportunities to branch out into studio work with artists such as Johnny Rivers.

When the Nelson band dissolved in 1964, Osborn turned to studio work full-time. For the next ten years, he was considered a "first-call" bassist among Los Angeles studio musicians (known as The Wrecking Crew), and he worked with well-known producers such as Lou Adler and Bones Howe, frequently in combination with drummer Hal Blaine and keyboardist Larry Knechtel. His bass can be heard on many of the hit records cut in Los Angeles during that time, along with numerous film scores and television commercials.

In 1974, Osborn left Los Angeles and moved to the country and western capital, Nashville. He continued an active studio career, playing behind such vocalists as Kenny Rogers, Mel Tillis, and Hank Williams, Jr. One count listed Osborn as bassist on fifty-three No. 1 hits on the country charts.

Joe Osborn's instrument throughout most of his recording career was a 1960 Fender "stack-knob" Jazz Bass. Lakland produces an Osborn signature model based on the artist's original Fender bass in 4- and 5-string versions, choice of active or passive electronics, as well as 34"-scale (4-string) with 20 frets or 35"-scale lengths (5-string) with 22 frets. His style is distinctive, with a resonant, bright tone produced, in part, by his use of a plectrum (pick).

Many producers and arrangers chose to spotlight his contributions by mixing the bass line more prominently than had been customary, and incorporating brief bass solos into their arrangements. His playing can be readily heard on records by such well-known groups as the Mamas and the Papas, the Association, and the Fifth Dimension. Osborn's contribution to Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" is particularly compelling, but his best-known creation is probably the funky obbligato that powers the Fifth Dimension's version of "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In."
Osborn also played on many of Neil Diamond's major hits in the late 1960's and early to middle 1970's, including the hauntingly unique bass lines on "Holly Holy" in 1969.

In addition to his own playing, Osborn is also known for his discovery and encouragement of the popular brother-and-sister duo, The Carpenters.

Osborn left Nashville in 1988 and settled in Keithville in Caddo Parish near Shreveport in northwestern Louisiana. As of 2005, he lived in semi-retirement. He still records occasionally, and sometimes plays in a family band called The Third Generation with his children and grandchildren.

elected list of recordings

*The Carpenters - "(They Long to Be) Close to You"
*Simon and Garfunkel - "Bridge Over Troubled Water", "The Only Living Boy in New York"
*The Fifth Dimension - "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In"

Significant Recordings by year, artist, title (ordered by Chart Position)

1961, Rick Nelson, Travelin’ Man, 1

1965, Gary Lewis/Playboys, This Diamond Ring, 1

1965, Barry McGuire, Eve of Destruction, 1

1966, Mamas and Papas, Monday Monday, 1

1966, Johnny Rivers, Poor Side of Town, 1

1967, Association, Windy, 1

1969, Fifth Dimension, Wedding Bell Blues, 1

1969, Tommy Roe, Dizzy, 1

1970, Carpenters, Close To You, 1

1970, Neil Diamond, Cracklin’ Rose, 1

1970, Partridge Family, I Think I Love You, 1

1970, Simon and Garfunkel, Bridge Over Troubled Water, 1

1972, Helen Reddy, I Am Woman, 1

1973, Carpenters, Top of the World, 1

1973, Helen Reddy, Delta Dawn, 1

1974, Carpenters, Please, Mr. Postman, 1

1964, Johnny Rivers, Memphis, 2

1965, Gary Lewis/Playboys, Count Me In, 2

1965, Gary Lewis/Playboys, Save Your Heart For Me, 2

1967, Mamas and Papas, Dedicated To the One I Love, 2

1968, Association, Never My Love, 2

1968, Richard Harris, MacArthur Park, 2

1970, Carpenters, Superstar, 2

1970, Carpenters, We’ve Only Just Begun, 2

1970, Fifth Dimension, One Less Bell to Answer, 2

1971, Carpenters, Rainy Days and Mondays, 2

1972, Carpenters, Hurting Each Other, 2

1973, Carpenters, Yesterday Once More, 2

1976, England Dan & John Ford Coley, I’d Really Love to See You, 2

1966, Johnny Rivers, Secret Agent Man, 3

1967, JohnnyRivers, Baby, I Need Your Lovin’, 3

1968, Fifth Dimension, Stone Soul Picnic, 3

1968, Monkees, Valleri, 3

1969, Bobby Sherman, Little Women, 3

1971, Carpenters, For All We Know, 3

1973, Carpenters, Sing, 3

1973, Helen Reddy, Leave Me Alone, 3

1965, Gary Lewis/Playboys, Everybody Loves a Clown, 4

1966, Mamas & Papas, California Dreamin’, 4

1967, Scott Mackenzie, San Francisco, 4

1974, America, Tin Man, 4

1975, Carpenters, Only Yesterday, 4

1962, Rick Nelson, Teenage Idol, 5

1962, Rick Nelson, YoungWorld, 5

1966, Mamas & Papas, Words of Love, 5

1967, Mamas & Papas, CreequeAlley, 5

1968, Grass Roots, Midnight Confession, 5

1968, Kenny Rogers & The First Edition, Just Dropped In, 5

1970, Bobby Sherman, Julie, Do You Love Me?, 5

1974, Neil Diamond, Longfellow Serenade, 5

1975, America, Lonely People, 5

1977, KennyRogers, Lucille, 5

1962, Rick Nelson, It's Up to You, 6

1964, Rick Nelson, ForYou, 6

1966, Mamas & Papas, I Saw Her Again, 6

1966, Tommy Roe, Hurray for Hazel, 6

1969, Kenny Rogers & The First Edition, Ruby, 6

1969, Neil Diamond, Holly Holy, 6

1970, Barbra Streisand, Stoney End, 6

1972, Johnny Rivers, Rockin’ Pneumonia, 6

1971, Partridge Family, Doesn’t Somebody Want to Be Wanted?, 6

1965, Johnny Rivers, Seventh Son, 7

1967, Fifth Dimension, Up, Up, and Away, 7

1969, Simon & Garfunkel, The Boxer, 7

1971, Tommy Roe, Stagger Lee, 7

1972, Carpenters, Goodbye to Love, 7

1966, Gary Lewis/Playboys, Green Grass, 8

1968, Boyce & Hart, I Wonder What She's Doin’, 8

1969, Tommy Roe, Jam Up, Jelly Tight, 8

1972, America, Ventura Highway, 8

1972, Fifth Dimension, Didn’t Get to Sleep at All, 8

1975, Helen Reddy, No Way to Treat a Lady, 8

1961, Rick Nelson, Hello, Mary Lou, 9

1964, Johnny Rivers, Mountain of Love, 9

1967, Spanky & Our Gang, Sunday Will Never Be the Same, 9

1969, Bobby Sherman, La La La, 9

1970, Bobby Sherman, Easy Come, Easy Go, 9

1971, Grass Roots, Sooner or Later, 9

1971, Partridge Family, I’ll Meet Ya Halfway, 9

1973, Art Garfunkel, All I Know, 9

1973, B.W. Stevenson, My Maria, 9

1974, Helen Reddy, You and Me Against the World, 9

1975, Austin Roberts, Rocky, 9

1978, England Dan & John Ford Coley, We’ll Never Have to Say Goodbye Again, 9

1982, Sylvia, Nobody, 9

1967, Johnny Rivers, Tracks of My Tears, 10

1968, Association, EverythingThat TouchesYou, 10

1970, Mark Lindsay, Arizona, 10

1972, Fifth Dimension, If I Could ReachYou, 10

1976, England Dan & John Ford Coley, Nights Are Forever, 10

1961, Rick Nelson, A Wonder Like You, 11

1970, Kenny Rogers & The First Edition, Somethin's Burnin’, 11

1974, Carpenters, I Won’t Last a Day, 11

1963, Rick Nelson, Fools Rush In, 12

1964, Johnny Rivers, Maybelle, 12

1968, Cass Elliott, Dream a Little Dream, 12

1971, FifthDimension, Never My Love, 12

1972, Carpenters, It's Going to Take Some Time, 12

1972, Austin Roberts, Something's Wrong With Me, 12

1973, Helen Reddy, Peaceful, 12

1976, Carpenters, There's a Kind of Hush, 12

1966, Gary Lewis/Playboys, My Heart Symphony, 13

1968, Fifth Dimension, Sweet Blindness, 13

1971, Helen Reddy, I Don't Know How to Love Him, 13

1972, Partridge Family, I Woke Up in Love, 13

1967, Johnny Rivers, Summer Rain, 14

1966, Gary Lewis/Playboys, Paint Me a Picture, 15

1969, Grass Roots, I’d Wait a Million Years, 15

1971, Grass Roots, Temptation Eyes, 15

1974, Helen Reddy, Keep On Singing, 15

1961, Rick Nelson, EverLovin’, 16

1967, Fifth Dimension, Go Where You Wanna Go, l 6

1971, Grass Roots, Two Divided By Love, 16

1971, Bobby Sherman, Cry Like a Baby, 16

1981, Carpenters, Touch Me When We’re Dancin’, 16

1968, Spanky & Our Gang, Like to Get to Know You, 17

1970, Kenny Rogers & The First Edition, Tell It to Brother, 17

1975, Carpenters, Solitaire, 17

1976, Art Garfunkel, I Only Have Eyes For You, 18

1966, Johnny Rivers, Muddy Water, 19

1968, Gary Lewis/Playboys, Sealed With a Kiss, 19

1969, Kenny Rogers & The First Edition, But You Know I Love You, 19

1970, Glen Campbell, Honey Come Back, 19

1971, Fifth Dimension, Love Lines, Angels & Rhymes, 19

1976, Helen Reddy, Somewhere in the Night, 19

1982, Michael Murphy, What's Forever For, 19

1965, Johnny Rivers, Midnight Special, 20

1967, Mamas & Papas, TwelveThirty, 20

1969, Fifth Dimension, Workin’ On a Groovy Thing, 20

1970, Michael Parks, Long Lonesome Highway, 20

1972, Partridge Family, It's One of Those Nights, 20

1977, Olivia Newton John, Sam, 20

1967, GaryLewis/Playboys, Where Will Words Come From, 21

1970, Fifth Dimension, Blowing Away, 21

1977, EnglandDan & John Ford Coley, It's Sad to Belong, 21 1975, Helen Reddy, Emotion, 22

1967, Grass Roots, Things I Should Have Said, 23

1967, Tommy Roe, It's Now Winter's Day, 23

1969, Glen Campbell, Try a Little Kindness, 23

1977, England Dan & John Ford Coley, Gone Too Far, 23

1966, Mamas & Papas, Look Through My Window, 24

1967, Scott Mackenzie, Like an Old-Time Movie, 24

1969, Grass Roots, HeavenKnows, 24

1970, Fifth Dimension, Puppet Man, 24

1970, Bobby Sherman, Hey, Mr. Sun!, 24

1963, Rick Nelson, String Along, 25

1969, Fifth Dimension, California Soul, 25

1970, Mark Lindsay, Silver Bird, 25

1976, Carpenters, I Need to Be In Love, 26

1964, Rick Nelson, The Very Thought of You, 26

1965, Johnny Rivers, Where Have All the Flowers Gone, 26

1967, Glen Campbell, By the Time I Get to Phoenix, 26

1967, Mamas & Papas, Glad to Be Unhappy, 26

1969, Glen Campbell, Where's the Playground, Suzie, 26

1970, Kenny Rogers & The First Edition, Reuben James, 26

1968, Boyce & Hart, Alice Long, 27

1970, Glen Campbell, All I Have to Do is Dream, 27

1970, Fifth Dimension, Save the Country, 27

1966, Grass Roots, Where Were You When I Needed You, 28

1969, Grass Roots, Bella Linda, 28

1972, Partridge Family, Breaking Up is Hard to Do, 28

1968, Fifth Dimension, Carpet Man, 29

1969, Tommy Roe, Heather Honey, 29

1971, Bobby Sherman, The Drum, 29

1968, Spanky & Our Gang, Sunday Morning, 30

1969, Cass Elliott, It's Getting Better, 30

1967, Spanky & Our Gang, Make Every Minute Count, 31

1969, Grass Roots, The River Is Wide, 31

1971, Glen Campbell, Dream Baby, 31

1974, Albert Hammond, I’m a Train, 31

1970, John Philips, Mississippi, 32

1973, Fifth Dimension, LivingTogether, 32

1977, Carpenters, Calling Occupants, 32

1966, Johnny Rivers, Under Your Spell Again, 33

1970, Kenny Rogers & The First Edition, Heed the Call, 33

1976, Olivia Newton John, Don’t Stop Believin’, 33

1967, Fifth Dimension, Paper Cup, 34

1972, Grass Roots, Glory Bound, 34

1973, Neil Diamond, Be, 34

1974, Art Garfunkel, Second Avenue, 34

1969, Glen Campbell, TrueGrit, 35

1970, Grass Roots, Baby, Hold On!, 35

1973, America, Don’t Cross River, 35

1975, Helen Reddy, Bluebird, 35

1977, Carpenters, All You Can Get From Love, 35

1968, Glen Campbell, I Want to Live, 36

1969, Glen Campbell, Let It Be Me, 36

1969, Cass Elliott, Make Your Own Kind of Music, 36

1972, Fifth Dimension, Together Let's Find Love, 37

1974, Art Garfunkel, I Shall Sing, 38

1975, Johnny Rivers, Blue Suede Shoes, 38

1967, Boyce & Hart, Out and About, 39

1968, Association, Time For Lovin’, 39

1968, Glen Campbell, Gentle On My Mind, 39

1972, Grass Roots, TheRunaway, 39

1973, Partridge Family, Look Through the Eyes of Love, 39

1966, The Turtles, You, Baby, 40