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Message |
 
DyvaNaye (westside314)
6-Zenith
Username: westside314
Post Number: 789
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 209.212.74.198
| | Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 11:43 am: |    |
Bertrand Odom, a former bass guitar player in the James Brown Band and who
family members described as a kind-hearted man, died Tuesday at a Mobile
hospital at the age of 72.
Odom quit the famous band in 1998 after being a member for 40 years, his
sister, Vernetta Greene, said Friday.
Greene said her brother suffered from kidney failure, a problem first
diagnosed when the band was playing in Las Vegas.
"He retired when his health began to fail in 1998," Greene said. "He had to
go on dialysis and could not travel with the band any longer."
Greene said that even after retiring and moving back to Mobile, Odom played
occasionally with the local Joe Morris Band and in jam sessions for fun with
other local musicians.
"He was my hero growing up," Greene said. "He was the most kind-hearted and
good person."
Greene said other members of James Brown's band credited Odom with "teaching
them everything they knew," and some have called since Tuesday to offer
their condolences.
Greene said she and other family members had not heard from James Brown and
didn't know if he would attend the funeral.
Odom, a native of Monroe County, had lived in Brooklyn, N.Y., according
family members.
Some of James Brown's songs that Odom played bass guitar on include "Try
Me," "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," "It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World," "Cold
Sweat" and "Bewildered," family members said.
Christian Benevolent Funeral Home on Hamilton Street in Mobile is handling
the funeral arrangements.
Survivors include one daughter, Elsie Sawyer of Mobile; a son Norman Odom of
Brooklyn, N.Y.; two sisters: Lillian Louise Dunn and Vernetta Greene, both
of Mobile; and one brother, Mose Odom of Brooklyn.
Viewing will be held at the funeral home from noon until 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Viewing also will be held at Bethel AME Church on Savannah Street from 9 to
10 a.m. Wednesday.
Visitation will be at the church from 10 a.m. Wednesday until the 11 a.m.
funeral. Interment will follow at Magnolia Cemetery in Mobile. |
Juicefree20 (juicefree20)
6-Zenith
Username: juicefree20
Post Number: 2022
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 24.46.184.162
| | Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 12:11 pm: | |
Hey Dyva,
Thank you for informing us of this very sad news! I didn't know that he was a fellow Brooklynite & he played some mighty fine bass, MIGHTY FINE BASS!! His bass work on Cold Sweat.....WHEW!!!!! Mr Odum got busy!!!
He left the James Brown band in 1968 & returned in 1970 only to be fired that year, after the rebellion heard around the Soul world, when James fired damn near the whole band & introduced the world to Bootsy Collins, et al.
According to the excellent 1996 book; "The Funkmasters - The Great James Brown Rhythm Section 1960-73 by Allan Slutsky, Mr Odum had also played with the band Lafayette & Friends, who were based in Augusta, Ga. On the CD included with the book, Mr Odums' bass style is isolated & you can hear his funky phrasings all by their lonesome. The man got BUSY!!!
Here's to one helluva bass player who grooved the world with those bass licks!!!
RIP MR Odum!!
(Message edited by juicefree20 on August 23, 2004) |
Chi Drummer (chidrummer)
4-Laureate
Username: chidrummer
Post Number: 129
Registered: 5-2004
Posted From: 67.175.80.214
| | Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 12:19 pm: | |
Mr. Odom was one of the great groove masters of our time. His work will live on in our hearts and on our turntables, tape decks and CD players. May he rest in peace. |
Kdubya (paladin)
5-Doyen
Username: paladin
Post Number: 211
Registered: 5-2004
Posted From: 206.185.64.23
| | Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 12:25 pm: | |
I was listening to James "Foundation of Funk" CD set over the weekend. I suspect that he figured prominently on those sides. RIP Mr. O.....
and the band played on.............
Kdubya |
Soul Sister (soul_sister)
6-Zenith
Username: soul_sister
Post Number: 1426
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 65.43.165.74
| | Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 12:29 pm: | |
R.I.P. Bertrand.
Jeanie |
Don (don)
6-Zenith
Username: don
Post Number: 660
Registered: 4-2004
Posted From: 68.78.27.87
| | Posted on Monday, August 23, 2004 - 7:47 pm: | |
Here is some of Bertrand or Bernard Odem discograhy recordings with JB and his Funky People, this is only some records on him what I know.
Bewildered
Good Good Lovin'
I'll Go Crazy
I Know It's Time
(Do The) Mashed Potatoes
You Got The Power
Think
Devil's Den (Instr)
Out of Sight
Grits (Instr)
Maybe The Last Time
It's A Man's World
I Got You
Papa's Got A Brand New Bag, Pt. 1
I Got You (I Feel Good)
It's A Man's Man's Man's World
Money won't Change You
Don't Be A Dropout
Bring It Up (Hipster's Avenue)
Let Yourself Go
Cold Sweat
Get It Together
I Got The Feelin'- JAMES BROWN
You've Got The Power - BEA FORD
Straighten Up - YVONNE FAIR
I Cried
If You Don't Think - TAMMY MONTGOMERY a/k/a (TAMMI TERRELL)
If Somebody Told You
Make Up Your Mind
Baby Baby Baby - ANNA KING & BOBBY BYRD
All Of Me
Whole Lot Of Lovin'- ELSIE MAE
This Is My Story - THE JEWELS
Wide Awake In A Dream
If You Don't Give Me What I Want
(I Gotta Get It Some Other Place)- VICKI ANDERSON
Unwind Yourself
It's My Thing (You Can't Tell Me Who To Sock It To)- MARVA WHITNEY
I'm Lonely
We're In Love
No One Like My Baby
Baby Baby Baby/BOBBY BYRD & ANNA KING - BOBBY BYRD
Soul Food, Pts. 1 & 2 (instr)
Infatuation (instr)
Headache (instr)
Every Beat Of My Heart (instr)
Try Me (instr)
New Breed (instr)
Jabo (instr)
Fat Bag (instr)
Sumpin' Else (instr)
Devil's Den (instr)
The King (instr)
Gittin' a Little Hipper (instr)- JAMES BROWN
"CUZ" |
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