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Bassist: Willie Otis Lemons, III (a/k/a: KOOT) Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Style: Funk, Rock, Progressive Jazz Influences: Stanley Clarke, Larry Graham, Louis Johnson and Marcus Miller A drummer at age five, Willie switched his focus to bass after hearing Stanley Clarke's Lopsy Lu. After receiving a bass for Christmas, he taught himself the rest of the songs on Stanley Carke's Epic recording note for note. He next sought out material by Larry Graham, Bootsy Collins and Louis Johnson. During junior year of high school, his studies with Julius McCullough enabled him to gain greater popularity in this area. At 19 he toured Canada with the Euphoria Band. His next stint was with the Nitelife Quintet, and the house band at Philadelphia's Freedom Theater. During the past ten years, Willie has played with numerous Top 40 groups, original dance and funk bands and the band Mind Expansion. He has also played with Major Harris and the DelPhonics, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Eddie Holman, Jr., Jean Carne, The Fantastic Voyage (70's All-Star Show), Vickie Sue Robinson, Mans Creation (fusion band), IROQ (top 40 dance band), the Joe Walston Orchestra, Brenda and the Tabulations and Peaches and Herb. Most recently, Willie has opened for Marcus Miller, Living Colour and plays with the House of Soul band(every thursday at Club Brave New World), which features such Artists as Lina, Allure and N'Dambi. Willie has toured all over the world with the Department of Defense with D.D.U. Top 40 band, touring throughout Europe performing for American troops stationed in Germany, Austria, Italy, Greece, Spain, Philippines, Honduras, Panama and Singapore. Willie works as first call session bassist for Justice Studios, Philadelphia, Pa. and has been featured in Guitar Player magazine. He has played on the gospel CD Ben Pressley's "Vessel of Praise" and the soundtrack for the notion picture "Higher" which is a CD produced by Flem Brown for Justice Studios and the AMA/Prostar National Event "Drag Racing".he is currently working with the Sid Miller Orchestra, Digable Hips, Cut Above, Nite Life, Serious Mix, Popular Request, Raashan and The Groove Merchants, Creative Reflections, Urban Legendz, PM and the New Breed, Love Jones and Willie's own band Hue. He also performs poetry readings for Loiness Productions and Tiffany Bacon. Willie also teaches bass imparting his knowledge of slap-style, including funk vamps, double and triple plucks, "machine gun" triplets and right-hand tapping. His command of technical solo chops is reminiscent of Billy Sheehan and on tunes with PM and the New Breed. His future plans includes mastering finger dexterity, all forms of scales and arpeggios, and developing new techniques. His main goal is to nail down a major label deal and to teach. Previously, he has designed and built six basses and he is currently designing and building his own 8-string bass. In addition to his musical talents, Willie races his Kawaski ZX750 Turbo motorcycle for 20th Century Racing in Wildwood, New Jersey(best ET ¼ mile 9.90) and is a member of the Barbarian's Motorcycle Club, Philadelphia Spoilers High Performance Automobile Club for which he has appeared in Sport Truck Magazine and Superford Magazine for his 1992 Ford Ranger which has appeared in different truck shows around the country. When time permits, Willie also studies Karate. Endorsements: Dean Markley Strings, Hipshot Awards: Listed and awarded among the jazz greats according to Jazz Chronicles (www.jazzchronicles.com) *Twice voted Best Bassist in Philadelphia) Track List: 1. Above Sae Level 2. Animated Gumbo 3. The World Is a Ghetto 4. Strange Funk 5. Georgia Peach 6. Zeulbyzzaj Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
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