Victor Bailey

Biography

Victor Bailey (March 27, 1960 – November 11, 2016) was an American jazz fusion bass guitar player. He was the bass player for Weather Report during their final years from 1982 to 1986, and launched a solo career in 1988. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., Victor Bailey attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston after being disqualified from naval service due to asthma. Bailey has recorded and/or toured with Omar Hakim, Sonny Rollins, Pharoah Sanders, Miriam Makeba, Larry Coryell,...

Victor Bailey (March 27, 1960 – November 11, 2016) was an American jazz fusion bass guitar player. He was the bass player for Weather Report during their final years from 1982 to 1986, and launched a solo career in 1988.

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., Victor Bailey attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston after being disqualified from naval service due to asthma.

Bailey has recorded and/or toured with Omar Hakim, Sonny Rollins, Pharoah Sanders, Miriam Makeba, Larry Coryell, Lenny White, Mike Stern, Dennis Chambers, Poogie Bell, Weather Report, Michael Brecker, LL Cool J, Kenny Garrett, Jim Beard, David Gilmore, Lady Gaga, Madonna, Mary J. Blige, Steps Ahead, Sting, Hamiet Bluiett, Olu Dara, Don Alias, Sadao Watanabe, Michał Urbaniak, Urszula Dudziak, Roy Haynes, Tom Browne, Bobby Broom, Jeff Lorber, Bernard Wright, Don Blackman, René McLean, Kevin Eubanks, Najee, Bennie Maupin, Patrice Rushen, and David Fiuczynski.

Fender has released a Victor Bailey Signature acoustic bass guitar, as well as the Victor Bailey Jazz Bass (Artist series), available in 4, 5-string, fretted and fretless versions. Bailey also used Markbass amplifiers.

Victor Bailey has suffered from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease for most of his adult life. As the disease progresses, Bailey began using a cane to offset his weakened legs. The weakness finally spread to his upper body, necessitating his 2015 retirement from performing and from his teaching position at Berklee College of Music.

Discography

Bottom's Up, (Atlantic, 1989)
Petite Blonde, (with Dennis Chambers, Mitch Forman, Chuck Loeb, and Bill Evans) (1992)
Low Blow, (Zebra, 1999)
That's Right!, (ESC, 2001)
Electric, (with Larry Coryell and Lenny White) (Chesky, 2005)
Traffic, (with Larry Coryell and Lenny White) (2006)
Slippin' 'n' Trippin', (2010)

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