One of my true music heroes. I saw him live many times back in the day when you could watch from a few feet in a small venue. He was the first player I ever thought was a total machine on his instrument.
I can remember the first time I heard “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” on am radio. Vanilla Fudge was like nothing heard before, and I was blown away. I wore the grooves out of that 45rpm.
Then, while I was in high school in my little town of 19,000, the unheard of happened-Vanilla Fudge was coming to our gym (the world’s largest HS gym seating 9,600) to put on a show. I sat at the feet of Tim Bogart, and watched him rip the strings off of his bass. He was magic.
I saw Billy Sheehan walking the halls at NAMM a few years back. I asked him; “Was Tim Bogart one of your influences?” His response? “The biggest.” Watching Billy attack his bass, it’s easy to see.
Tim Bogart literally changed my musical life. RIP Mr. Bogart.