American session bass player
Russell Savakus (May 13, 1925 – June 26, 1984)[1] was an American session bass player (both electric and stand-up), violinist and singer. Savakus recorded with numerous artists in and around the 1960s folk and folk-rock movement in New York.[2] Earlier, he had been a part of the rhythm section for the Les Elgart swing band.[3]
According to Michael Bloomfield, who met Savakus at a Bob Dylan session: "They had a bass player, a terrific guy, Russ Savakus. It was his first day playing electric bass, and he was scared of that. No one understood nothing."[4] However, Dylan chose to replace Savakus on tour [5]
He died in 1984 at the age of 59.
Discography
Songs and records that he has played on include:
- Embraceable You, Chet Baker (1957)[6]
- Walk On By, Dionne Warwick (1964)[7]
- Farewell, Angelina, Joan Baez (1965)
- The In Instrumentals, Kai Winding (Verve, 1965)
- Reflections in a Crystal Wind, Richard & Mimi Fariña (1965)
- Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan (1965)[8]
- Early Morning Rain, Ian and Sylvia (1965)[9]
- Many a Mile, Buffy Saint-Marie (1965)[10]
- Southbound, Doc Watson (1966)
- I'm a Believer, The Monkees (1966)[11]
- Fire & Fleet & Candlelight, Buffy Saint-Marie (1967)
- Brown Eyed Girl, Van Morrison (1967)
- Memories, Richard & Mimi Fariña (1968)[12]
- The Corporation: Vinnie Bell, Dick Hyman, Bill LaVorgna, Phil Bodner, Bucky Pizzarelli, Russ Savakus (1968)
- Rhymes and Reasons, John Denver (1969)[13]
- Take Me to Tomorrow, John Denver (1970)
- David Clayton-Thomas, David Clayton-Thomas (1972)
- Don McLean, Don McLean (1972)
- Extension of a Man, Donny Hathaway (1973)
- Playin' Favorites, Don McLean (1973)[14]
- Never Letting Go, Phoebe Snow (1977)
- Times of Our Lives, Judy Collins (1982)