We will miss you Jackie Street.

June 17, 1959 - February 17, 2008

Legendary bassist Jackie Street passed away last night. He will be missed greatly by many. I count myself blessed to have worked with Jackie over the years. In fact, the last two tracking sessions I was on, Jackie was in the house. What a joy. One of my fondest memories was that Jackie ALWAYS sat in the control room! It was a blast for me (being an engineer and a wannabe bass player). We would make fun of everybody out on the studio floor and the banter over the talk-back was all that more entertaining. He was so much fun. He was a kind and loving person to all. One of the emails I got quote Mark Baldwin saying, "Heaven just got a lot funkier." I couldn't agree more.

Please feel free to share your memories of Jackie with us...

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Permalink Reply by Anthony Skinner on February 23, 2008 at 9:54am: I remember early on … before I was even involved in music, my friend Barry and I met Jackie. Consistent with his renown generosity, he invited us to come down to SIR, (in Nashville) and hear a rehearsal. Now Jackie was (of course) an amazing player and this was right after Russ Taff and co. had dropped ‘Medals’ on us. So to say the least, these guys definitely had our attention.

During the rehearsal, nothing much was really happening, because the band was focused on things like tightening up the arrangement -- and other really important things as it turns out. However, to us young guys who were just looking to get our rocks off, boredom was starting to settle in. As fate would have it, the band stopped to take a break, and Jackie started poppin’, slappin’ and thumpin’ the heck out of the bass. We were laughing and lapping up the cheap thrill (and set up), that Jackie was serving up.

At the height of our excitement, Jackie stopped and said, "It don't mean a thing if it doesn't help the song."

As you go through life there are things you have to work so hard for, things you have to search out, things you have to mine and unearth … and then there are the things that are just given to you.

Thanks for giving us that one Jackie … I’ve never forgotten it!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by David Erwin on February 23, 2008 at 11:33pm: Did you catch the tribute to Jackie on this week's (2/23/08) live broadcast of Saturday Night Live? Carrie Underwood was the music guest and her bass player had "Jackie Street" written on his bass. Very cool!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mike Childers on February 23, 2008 at 11:43pm: That was my brother Mark. The reason Mark plays bass is because he saw Jackie playing live in the early 80's with the Imperials. Jackie inspired a lot of people to play...... and play great. All the drummers I know, including myself, will attest to the fact that Jackie made us sound and play better.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Garth Justice on February 24, 2008 at 12:02am: Great tribute Mark!

Thx for representin'

Garth; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Brad Bass on February 24, 2008 at 12:11am: Yeah, Glad I wasn't the only one who saw that. Amazing...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Chris Knight on February 24, 2008 at 1:06pm: no kidding! VERY COOL!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Scott Williamson on February 24, 2008 at 12:11am: Here here, Mike. Jackie made EVERYBODY play better. A lot of my development as a drummer, I owe to Jackie and his unselfish and encouraging way of drawing out the best in everybody.

Mark is a class act for honoring Jackie like that.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Eric Wyse on February 24, 2008 at 1:33am: Jackie - you will be sorely missed - both for your playing - and your kind heart. I can't even remember the first time I "met" you - seems like I've just always known you since being in Nashville - I do remember calling you to play for CeCe Winans TV show (CeCe's Place 1998) - and then great playing - and sense of calm you brought to that show with its crazy schedule (very little time for rehearsal and then live to tape) and wide range of artists and musical style - you were right on the money all the way. Grace and peace...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Scott Sheriff on February 24, 2008 at 2:42am: I had the privilege of playing some gigs with Lisa Stewart and Delicious with Jackie on the Bass. He was a virtual encyclopedia of music. I could whip out the most obscure Al Jarreau tune during sound check and Jackie was right there with the bass line. His bass ad-libs on the fade out of Lisa Bevill's "My Freedom" still make me laugh-SO MUSICAL!!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dave Pomeroy on February 25, 2008 at 11:51am: Hey there everyone. Here's a obit/tribute to Jackie that I wrote for Bass Player magazine. It should run in the May issue.
I tried to pick representative samples from his discography. Sure I missed some good ones but I had to stop somewhere.

Dave Pomeroy

Jackie Street 1959 - 2008
The Nashville music community lost one of its most beloved members on February 17, 2008, when bassist Jackie Street passed away unexpectedly from complications related to diabetes. He was a humble, sweet man who brought a deep soulfulness to everything he played - and in the way he lived. Originally from Macon, Georgia, Jackie played on countless records with a diverse list of artists, including DC Talk, Amy Grant, Russ Taff, Bryan Duncan, Jars of Clay, Little Big Town, and Phil Keaggy. A man of few words, Jackie knew how to make the most of every bass note as well, but he could also burn it down at a moment’s notice! He had most recently been touring with powerhouse R&B/funk ensemble Charles Walker and the Dynamites.

Jackie was a truly great bass player who excelled at funk, rock, R&B and Gospel grooves, but most importantly, he was an extraordinary human being. The supportive, nurturing, and unifying qualities that make for great bass playing were also totally evident in the way he treated people and lived his life, and since his passing, many stories of his generosity and selflessness have come to light. When Jackie played in the All-Bass Orchestra, he naturally became the BASS player in that band, and we all leaned on his huge groove. He would always greet you with a shy smile, a warm hug, and a funny remark, and made everyone around him feel comfortable, relaxed, and in tune with the Universe. He will be missed.

10 Records from Jackie’s Discography…

Bryan Duncan – Joyride (Reunion) (?)
Michael W. Smith – Change Your World (Reunion) 1992
DC Talk – Jesus Freak (Forefront) 1996
Jewel – This Way (Atlantic)2001
Take 6 – So Cool (Warner Brothers) 1998
ZOEGirl – Room To Breathe (Sparrow)2005
Marshall Chapman – Love Slave (Polygram) 1996
Jaci Velasquez – Crystal Clear (Word) 2000
Little Big Town - Road To Here (Equity) 2005
Babbie Mason – Right Where You Are (Spring Hill) 2004; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Mark Chesshir on February 25, 2008 at 12:03pm: Nice tribute Dave. If you were to list the many recordings, you would have been typing for days! Thanks for sharing Jackie's life with many more who have never had the privilege to know such a great man.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lang Bliss on March 3, 2008 at 8:37pm: Hey Everybody,
Renee and I miss Jackie as you all do. What a great player and wonderful guy. Jackie was the guy we hoped would play with us and we thought we were cooler because of it. He was THE dude on bass for many of my first years in town and the one who defined for me, in a real life enviornment as opposed to just hearing somebody on a record, what a professional bass player was supposed to sound like. It was an awesome experience when I played with somebody that had that big a pocket to drop in with. Looking forward to playing together again in days to come my brother Jackie!
Lang & Renee Bliss; ▶ Reply to This