On October 19, 2025, Anthony Claiborne Jackson died aged 73. He was musician (electric bass, contrabass, guitar), bassist, regarded as “one of the masters of the instrument”. He performed live in more than 30 countries and recorded in more than 3000 sessions on more than 500 albums, with Al Di Meola, Billy Paul, Carlos Garnett, Roberta Flack, Patti Austin, Alex Bugnon, Michel Camilo, Jorge Dalto, Mandoki Soulmates, Will Downing, Carlos Franzetti, Jun Fukamachi, Eric Gale, Terumasa Hino, Garland Jeffreys, Chaka Khan, Steve Khan, Tania Maria, Harvey Mason, Michel Petrucciani, Buddy Rich, Lee Ritenour, Mike Stern, Hiromi Uehara, Grover Washington Jr., Monty Alexander, Peter Allen, Gabriela Anders, Ashford & Simpson, Fahir Atakoglu, Anita Baker, Bob Baldwin, Gato Barbieri, Thereza Bazar, Jim Beard, Bee Gees, George Benson, Warren Bernhardt, Randy Bernsen, Rory Block, Perry Botkin Jr., Ralph Bowen, Till Brönner, Peabo Bryson, Jimmy Buffett, Dina Carroll, Dennis Chambers, Sandeep Chowta, John Clark, Norman Connors, Chick Corea, Hank Crawford, Randy Crawford, Lou Courtney, Eddie Daniels, Michael Davis, Rainy Davis, Eumir Deodato, Devonsquare, Paul Dresher, Ned Rothenberg, Gene Dunlap, Eliane Elias, Pee Wee Ellis, Jon Faddis, Donald Fagen, Joe Farrell, Rachelle Ferrell, Barry Finnerty, Sonny Fortune, Hiroshi Fukumura, Four Tops, Henry Gaffney, Carlos Garnett, Stephane Grappelli, Urbie Green, Michael Gregory, Dave Grusin, Kit Hain, Delores Hall, Lionel Hampton, Gene Harris, Takehiro Honda, Lena Horne, Miki Howard, Bobbi Humphrey, Phyllis Hyman, Masaru Imada, Freddie Jackson, Joe Jackson, Rebbie Jackson, Al Jarreau, Quincy Jones, Ryo Kawasaki, Earl Klugh, Kahoru Kohiruimaki, Wayne Krantz, Bireli Lagrene, Yusef Lateef, Webster Lewis, Dave Liebman, Reggie Lucas, Ralph MacDonald, Teo Macero, Madonna, Teena Marie, Sleepy Matsumoto, Maureen McGovern, Sergio Mendes, Pat Metheny, Bette Midler, Barry Miles, Russell Morris, Gerry Mulligan, Milton Nascimento, David “Fathead” Newman, Maxine Nightingale, Claude Nougaro, The O’Jays, Jeffrey Osborne, Phil Perry, Peter, Paul & Mary, Esther Phillips, Simon Phillips, Noel Pointer, Jesse Rae, Ernest Ranglin, Lou Rawls, Jess Roden, Diana Ross, Ray Russell, Sam & Dave, David Sanborn, Arturo Sandoval, Alejandro Sanz, Lalo Schifrin, Helen Schneider, John Scofield, John Sebastian, Doc Severinsen, Carly Simon, Edward Simon, Paul Simon, Simon & Garfunkel, Kathy Sledge, Lonnie Liston Smith, Steve Smith, Phoebe Snow, Bert Sommer, David Spinozza, Steely Dan, Jeremy Steig, Charles Sullivan, Ximo Tebar, Nino Tempo, John Tropea, Michal Urbaniak, Dave Valentin, Luther Vandross, Harold Vick, Roch Voisine, Martha Wash, Kazumi Watanabe, Sadao Watanabe, Frank Weber, Dave Weckl, James D-Train Williams, Vanessa Williams, Nancy Wilson, Bernie Worrell and Akiko Yano. As co – leader Jackson released three albums.
Tag Archives: Anita Baker
Fourplay: Let’s Touch the Sky

October 25, 2010, “Heads Up” label released “Let’s Touch the Sky”, the eleventh Fourplay studio album. It was recorded in 2010, and was produced by Bob James, Chuck Loeb, Nathan East and Harvey Mason.
Personnel:
- Bob James – keyboards
- Chuck Loeb – guitars
- Nathan East – vocals, bass guitar
- Harvey Mason – drums, percussion
- Ruben Studdard – vocals
- Anita Baker – vocals
- Heather Mason – backing vocals
- Ken Freeman – engineer
- Andrew Hey – engineer
- Joshua Blanchard – engineer assistant
- Paul Blackmore – mastering
- Jennifer Armstrong – photography
- Sandrine Lee – photography
- Debbie Johnson – production coordinator
- Amy McGuire Lynch – production coordinator
- Marion Orr – production coordinator
- Natalie Singer – product manager
- Mark Wexler – executive producer
Track listing:
- Let’s Touch the Sky – Bob James
- 3rd Degree – Chuck Loeb
- More Than a Dream – Harvey Mason
- Pineapple Getaway – Harvey Mason
- I’ll Still Be Lovin’ You – Nathan East
- Gentle Giant (for Hank) – Bob James
- A Night in Rio – Nathan East, Tom Keane
- Love TKO – Cecil Womack, Linda Womack, Gip Noble
- Above and Beyond – Chuck Loeb
- Golden Faders – Bob James
- You’re My Thrill – Jay Gorney, Sidney Clare
Arif Mardin
On June 25, 2006, Arif Mardin died aged 74. He was music arranger and producer, worked at Atlantic Records for over 30 years, before moving to EMI. Mardin worked with many famous artists including Aretha Franklin, Queen, Anita Baker, Dionne Warwick, Bette Midler, Roberta Flack, Wilson Pickett, Average White Band, The Bee Gees, Chaka Khan, Laura Nyro, Hall & Oates, Phil Collins, Barbra Streisand and Norah Jones. Mardin won eleven “Grammy Awards”.
Nelson Mandela: An International Tribute for a Free South Africa
On April 16, 1990, concert named “Nelson Mandela: An International Tribute for a Free South Africa” was held at Wembley Stadium, London. It was held two months after Nelson Mandela was released from prison and was broadcasted in 60 countries. The concert artist line-up included: Anita Baker, Bonnie Raitt, Chrissie Hynde, Jackson Browne, Lou Reed, Natalie Cole, Neil Young, Peter Gabriel, Simple Minds, Tracy Chapman, Stetsasonic, André A. Jackson, Aswad, Ben Elton, Caiphus Semenya, Daniel Lanois, Denzel Washington, Dudu Pukwana, Geoffrey Oreyama, George Duke, Jerry Dammers, Johnny Clegg, Jonas Gwangwa, Jungle Brothers, Lenny Henry, Letta Mbulu, Little Steven, Manhattan Brothers, Mica Paris, Neneh Cherry, Neville Brothers, Patti Labelle, Shikisha, Steven Van Zandt,Terence Trent D’Arby and Youssou N’Dour.
