Any jazz music lover knows who Johnny Hartman was. A rich baritone voice, for sure.
James Jamerson was an astonishingly great bass player. He was part of the (now) famous Funk Brothers who arranged and played backup music for a whole lot of Motown stars. He had his own fan club in England.
Nobody brings the funk and r&b/soul like him! Pretty much all with just one finger on the plucking hand, right? He’s been an influence on a huge number of bass players in all genres, but probably not well known to the general public.
I have a hunch (not much more than a hunch) … that JH is not well known outside of the US …
I am very close to jazz, and have to admit that I learned about him in my late 40ies (non-murican, here) … in my environment (LatAm now), If I ask 50 people about JH, I get at least 49 nopes
Known among harmonica players, but maybe Sugar Blue? (Known best for the harmonic in the Rolling Stones’ “Miss You.” A killer player.) Howard Levy? (Known from Bela Fleck and the Flecktones; revolutionized diatonic harmonica technique).
The Clapton and Skynyrd versions, yes. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard the JJ Cale tracks on the air. (But I do know his name. I just listened to the original “After Midnight” and, nope never heard of it. I honestly didn’t even know it was a cover until now. Same with the other two. I should be embarrassed as, like I said, I know of him, but apparently not much.)
Docs about the great session players like the Wrecking Crew or the Funk Brothers have shed light on many who would deserve mention in such a thread 20 years ago.
How many people are aware of Ian Stewart, founding member of the Rolling Stones and their studio keyboardist in the 1960s and 70s? He was kept off stage and the official lineup just because he didn’t look the part.