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know the blues... Artists
Art Love Bass players are sometimes overlooked in favor of the guitar player or singer but they should not be taken for granted. One outstanding bass player is Art Love, a man to watch and enjoy. Let’s learn a little about him. Art was born in Chicago IL in 1953. At the age of 12 or 13 he became interested in music while listening to friends playing in neighborhood bands. These bands were playing such things as Chicago Transit Authority, Humble Pie and Black Sabbath. At the same time his mother was listening to Herbie Mann, Bobby Womack and many R&B groups. Soon Art wanted to play too. Art’s parents bought him his first bass, a Gibson EBO JR. 4 string, with the stipulation that he would take music lessons. His music teacher was Mr. Landini, a guitar player, who taught him the basics of music, timing, reading music, playing correctly, and discipline. Art says that this was a great basis for learning to play the bass and from then on he was self taught. As Art grew older, he went to Bradley University where he played in a Godspell production on bass and also joined a Temptation- type group. He also played with rock and gospel groups and learned all music structures. He liked them all. In 1975 Art decided that making a living with music was his goal. For a while he lived in Chicago, playing with all types of bands. Then he went to New York for a year as a free lance player. Survival meant doing anything musically that he could including being a band director, writing charts and doing arrangements. Life was not easy. Art’s first big gig was with the Staple Singers, ”Pops and Mavis” in 1983. He toured N.Y., New Orleans and Chicago plus did gigs with other bands. Then in 1984-1985 Art decided to check out the music scene in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area, where he stayed awhile. In order to break into the music scene, he had to get day jobs and sit in on as many jam sessions as he could at night. In 1988 Art got his next big gig with Maria Muldaur. He toured with her band and The Mamma’s and The Pappa’s for a year. This was a good time for him. Then, in 1990, the Joe Louis Walker band had a bass player opening. At this time Art had a 5 night a week steady gig playing all types of music. He wanted to keep this but it was not possible to do both so soon Art was touring with Joe to Scandinavia, Europe, England and in the U.S., New Orleans, New York, and the West Coast. This tour strengthened Art’s blues roots. In 1992 Art left California for the Chicago-Rockford area. He played with the Mud Puppies with Dan Voll, did sessions work and worked all the angles to make a living in music. Over the years until 2001 Art has done shows at the Clock Tower, NAT plays, jazz shows and blues shows. He has played with such local musicians as Harlan Jefferson, Steve Ditzell, Dan Voll, Pistol Pete, the Stan Reese Band and Rick Burns. He has also played with Dan Voll on his CDs. In 2001 Art joined a band called THE BUSINESS which is an R&B, jazz, Latin horn band. Although he is quite busy, he still plays with Steve Ditzell when needed. The rest of his time is taken up with recording sessions, writing music charts and giving bass lessons. He has five students at this time. Art enjoys expressing himself musically. His goal is to be a regional music success and to continue to make a living doing it. Art’s advice to new band members is to be on time, come to play well, enjoy the music and have a good attitude. Then, as with him, they will find it a pleasure to be in the music business playing the blues as well as other types of music.
Submitted by Joe Poluyanskis a.k.a. “Harmonica Joe” |
