Victor Bailey, American bassist, Died at 56

  Music

Victor Bailey was born on March 27, 1960, in Philadelphia and died on November 11, 2016.

He was an American bass guitar player.

Bailey was the bassist for Weather Report during their final years from 1982 to 1986, and launched a solo career in 1988.

He was known for his signature scat-bass solos as a player.

He was raised by a highly musical family.

Victor’s father, Morris Bailey Jr., was an active musician and composer, while his uncle, Donald “Duck” Bailey, was a jazz drummer, who played on numerous Blue Note records (e.g., Jimmy Smith Trio, Hampton Hawes, Carmen McRae, Dizzy Gillespie).

When he was a child, Bailey played the drums, but ultimately switched to bass guitar after the bassist in his neighborhood band walked out of a band practice.

He took an immediate liking to the instrument, his father encouraged him to become a bass player.

Starting from 1978, at the age of 18, Bailey attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston after being disqualified from naval service due to asthma.

Following in his father’s footstep, Bailey suffered from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease for most of his adult life.

After the disease progressed, Bailey began using a cane to offset his weakened legs.

Subsequently, the weakness spread to his upper body, necessitating his 2015 retirement from performing and from his teaching position at Berklee College of Music.

Victor Bailey passed away at 56 years old.