Tim Bogert

Tim Bogert
Bogert with Beck, Bogert & Appice, 1972
Bogert with Beck, Bogert & Appice, 1972
Background information
Birth nameJohn Voorhis Bogert III
Born(1944-08-27)August 27, 1944
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedJanuary 14, 2021(2021-01-14) (aged 76)
Simi Valley, California, U.S.
Genres
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Bass, vocals
Years active1965–2021
Labels
Formerly ofBeck, Bogert & Appice
Vanilla Fudge
Cactus
Pappo
Jake E. Lee
DBA
The McGrath Project
Hollywood Monsters
WebsiteTim Bogert.com

John Voorhis "Tim" Bogert III[1] (August 27, 1944 – January 14, 2021) was an American musician. As a bass guitarist and vocalist he was best known for his powerful vocal ability and his fast runs, fluid agility and ground-breaking sound on his Fender Precision Bass. He was one of the pioneers of using distortion with his bass to help it cut through the mix with the low-powered amps of his time which also imparted a very sharp-edged sound to it. He was a frequent collaborator with drummer Carmine Appice; the duo performed in such bands as Vanilla Fudge,[2] Cactus and the power trio Beck, Bogert & Appice.[3]

Early life

[edit]

John Voorhis Bogert III was the only child born to a family of bankers, John Voorhis Jr. (1898-1984) and Christine Caroline Bach (1909-2000).[4] He graduated in 1963 from Ridgefield Memorial High School[5] in his hometown of Ridgefield, New Jersey.[6]

Career

[edit]

1960s

[edit]

In 1965, Bogert, who was born John, chose to go by the nickname "Tim" in 1965 when his career performing on stage started.[7]

Vanilla Fudge was formed by Tim Bogert along with Mark Stein, Vince Martell, and Carmine Appice. They recorded five albums during the years 1967–69, before disbanding in 1970. Their only hit song was a cover of "You Keep Me Hangin' On" by The Supremes. The band has reunited in various configurations over the years, with Bogert returning to the band on multiple occasions until 2010.

1970s

[edit]

In 1970, Bogert formed the hard rock band Cactus[8] with drummer Carmine Appice, guitarist Jim McCarty and lead vocalist Rusty Day. He then played with guitarist Jeff Beck, after the second Jeff Beck Group had disbanded in 1972 and eventually became a member of the power trio Beck, Bogert & Appice, late in 1972. As a member of the post-second Jeff Beck Group, also known as Jeff Beck Group, he toured Europe, Japan and the U.S. from January 1972 until January 1974. In late 1975, he played bass guitar on Bo Diddley's The 20th Anniversary of Rock 'n' Roll all-star album.

Bogert then joined up with Bobby and the Midnites,[9] a musical side project assembled by guitarist and vocalist Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead. Despite touring with the group, Bogert left before their eponymous album was released and was replaced by Alphonso Johnson. He then joined UK group Boxer and played on their final album "Absolutely" in 1977 – he had co-writing credits on three tracks on this album. The album and subsequent tour met with an indifferent response and the band had folded by 1978.

1980s & 1990s

[edit]

During 1981 Bogert toured with guitarist Rick Derringer and released an album Progressions. He recorded his second album Master's Brew in 1983 and recorded Mystery with Vanilla Fudge in 1984. In 1981 Bogert became a faculty member at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood.[10] In 1993 he worked with Pata, recording the guitarist's self-titled album and joining Tommy Aldridge and James Christian on a November 1993 tour of Japan supporting the album.[11][12]

In early 1999, The Hollywood Rock Walk of Fame recognised Tim Bogert's contribution to rock history. That year, he teamed up with Appice and Char to tour Japan in a unit called CB&A, with a live album released the following year.[11] Later in 1999 Bogert worked with Triality, and Shelter Me. In 2000, Bogert and Carmine Appice formed the power trio DBA with Rick Derringer and toured with Vanilla Fudge.

2000s & 2010s

[edit]

During 2009, Bogert joined blues rock trio Blues Mobile Band and recorded Blues Without Borders (2009) in Los Angeles.[citation needed]

In 2010, Bogert, with Mike Onesko on guitar and vocals and Emery Ceo on drums (both from the Blindside Blues Band) recorded Big Electric Cream Jam, a 10-track live tribute to Cream Live at The Beachland Ballroom Euclid Ohio.[citation needed]

Tim Bogert was a part of the then Los Angeles–based The McGrath Project, featuring Gary McGrath (Grammy Award–winning producer) Chet McCracken (Doobie Brothers and America) Dean Minnerly (Three Dog Night and Aretha Franklin touring member) and Ann-Marita. They did three records, self-titled, “Love is a Four-Letter Word” and “Phoenix” released under 4818 Records.[13][14][15][16][17]

In early 2014, Bogert joined hard rock band Hollywood Monsters, where he played on the album Big Trouble (on three tracks) which was released in 2014 on Mausoleum Records. The album features Steph Honde on vocals and guitars, Vinny Appice (Carmine's brother) on drums, Don Airey on keyboards (on one track) and Paul Di'Anno on lead vocals on the bonus track.[18]

Personal life and death

[edit]

Bogert located to California in the 1980s where he remained until he died.[4]

In 2010, Bogert "reluctantly" retired from touring due to a motorcycle accident. He died on January 13, 2021, from cancer.[19] He is survived by his wife, Veda Vaughn Bogert, and their only child John Voorhis Bogert IV, whose known by the name "Freddy".[4][20] Tributes were made by Carmine Appice and Paul Stanley of Kiss.[21]

Legacy

[edit]

Bogert has been listed as an important influence on other renowned rock bassists. In 2025, Billy Sheehan called him "probably the biggest influence on me bass-wise"[22] and said "He just had a take on it that was unlike anyone else, and he just created this integral melodic move that was reminiscent of Motown, only way wilder."[23]

Discography

[edit]

Solo

[edit]

With Vanilla Fudge

[edit]

With Cactus

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Greg Prato. "Tim Bogert". Allmusic.com. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
  2. ^ Steve Huey. "Vanilla Fudge". Allmusic.com. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
  3. ^ Hjort and Hinman. Jeff's book: A Chronology of Jeff Beck's Career 1965–1980. pp. 80, 101–103, 105, 107, 119, 120, 122, 123, 125, 126, 128, 129, 131, 133, 134, 136, 139, 142, 143, 144, 146–149, 151.
  4. ^ a b c Baldino, Tom (January 14, 2021). "Remembering Tim Bogert". Jersey Shore Jazz & Blues Foundation. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  5. ^ "Cactus Bassist Tim Bogert (1944-2021) Remembered For A Career Spanning Vanilla Fudge, Jeff Beck, Steve Perry And Hollywood Monsters", Stargazed Magazine. Accessed November 29, 2023. "Bogert graduated from Ridgefield Memorial High School in 1963 and formed a band called The Belltones."
  6. ^ Atkinson, Rick. "This Winter Is Johnny, And His Music Is Hot", The Record, May 14, 1971. Accessed January 17, 2022. "For Cactus, this was more than just another show. This was more of a homecoming, since Tim Bogert comes from Ridgefield."
  7. ^ Staff, A. O. L. (January 14, 2021). "Tim Bogert, NY bassist who played with classic rock groups Vanilla Fudge and Cactus, dies at 76". www.aol.com. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  8. ^ Jim Newsom. "Cactus". Allmusic.com. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
  9. ^ Pareles, Jon. Bobby and the Midnites concert review, New York Times, August 31, 1984 retrieved 18 October 2021
  10. ^ Shafer, Ellise (January 14, 2021). "Tim Bogert, Vanilla Fudge and Cactus Bassist, Dies at 76". Variety. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Tim Bogert Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
  12. ^ Pata (2024). Pata: Yopparai no Kaikoroku. Rittor Music. pp. 142–149. ISBN 978-4-8456-3968-7.
  13. ^ Love Is a 4-Letter Word 1, Oarfin Records, retrieved July 18, 2023
  14. ^ Love Is a 4 Letter Word, Vol. 1 by The McGrath Project, January 3, 2012, retrieved July 18, 2023
  15. ^ The McGrath Project - Love Is A 4-Letter Word, Vol. 2 Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic, retrieved July 18, 2023
  16. ^ "The McGrath Project". mcgrath. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  17. ^ Phoenix, March 6, 2015, retrieved July 18, 2023
  18. ^ "Hollywood Monsters Signs With Mausoleum". Rock N Growl Records. May 5, 2014. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
  19. ^ "Tim Bogert, Vanilla Fudge + Cactus Bassist, Reportedly Dies at 76". Ultimate Classic Rock. January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  20. ^ "In Memoriam: John Voorhis "Tim" Bogert III (1944 – 2021) Guitarist". RadioMaxMusic. January 15, 2021. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  21. ^ Colothan, Scott (January 14, 2021). "Bass 'powerhouse' Tim Bogert dies aged 76". rayo.
  22. ^ "'Reminiscent of Motown, Only Way Wilder': Billy Sheehan Names Overlooked Bassist Who Influenced Him Early On". Ultimate Guitar. April 24, 2025. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  23. ^ "'Reminiscent of Motown, Only Way Wilder': Billy Sheehan Names Overlooked Bassist Who Influenced Him Early On". Ultimate Guitar. April 24, 2025. Retrieved April 26, 2025.
  24. ^ a b "tim bogert records and CDs". MusicStack. Retrieved July 10, 2025.
  25. ^ "Tim Bogert Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More ..." AllMusic. Retrieved July 10, 2025.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Hjort, Chris and Hinman, Doug. Jeff's book : A chronology of Jeff Beck's career 1965–1980 : from the Yardbirds to Jazz-Rock. Rock 'n' Roll Research Press, (2000). ISBN 0-9641005-3-3
[edit]