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Ralph Bass

 



Left to Right: Leonard Chess, Etta James and Ralph Bass | Geni | tc620

Rhythm-and-blues record producer, A&R manager and talent scout Ralph Basso, Jr., known as Ralph Bass, was born in The Bronx, New York City on 1 May 1911. 


He was a pioneer in bringing African-American music into the American mainstream. He is associated with the record companies Black & White, Savoy, King, Federal and Chess, who he joined in 1959, and many artists including Etta James, Sam Cooke, James Brown, Earl Bostic, and the Dominoes. Among his productions are Little Willie Littlefield's original version of "Kansas City" and The Dominos' "Sixty Minute Man". In 1991 Mr Bass was inducted as a non-performer into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Ralph Bass died in New York City on 5 March 1997.

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