Growing up in a musical New York household,
Reggie Hamilton received a guitar at age five from his mother. He
soon grew attracted to the sound of the lower end, and switched to
bass guitar; acclaimed New York bassist Kim Clarke was his first
teacher. Hamilton later took up acoustic bass and gained much
experience playing in jazz and R&B clubs. At age 19, he was working
for bandleader Michael Pedicin Jr. as a house bassist in two
Atlantic City, N.J., orchestras.
Hamilton declined a Philadelphia Music Academy scholarship to study
double bass with Neil Courtney of the Philadelphia Orchestra and to
study composition with Dennis Sandole. He continues to study double
bass to this day, with Vincent Pasquier of the Paris National
Orchestra.
After moving to Los Angeles, Hamilton was introduced to jazz legend
George Duke and legendary bassist Stanley Clarke, both of whom
embraced Hamilton like a younger brother (Hamilton has often
referred to Clarke in particular as his mentor). Due in part to the
invaluable tutelage of Clarke and Duke, Hamilton quickly amassed a
substantial discography and touring resumé. He has played and
recorded with artists as diverse as Tina Turner, Luther Vandross,
Boyz II Men, Whitney Houston, Gladys Knight, Johnny Hallyday,
Enrique Iglesias, Randy Newman, Bette Midler, Aaron Neville, Doc
Powell, Seal, Barbra Streisand, Natalie Cole, Sylvie Vartan, Warren
Zevon and many others. Hamilton also has a long list of impressive
film and television credits.
|