'THE GRANDDADDY OF THE ELECTRIC BASS’

S.C. native James Jamerson gave Motown its soulful sound, but today nobody knows his name

Think about the first few seconds of The Temptations’ “My Girl,” that syrupy bass line leading to the opening flourish.

That was James Jamerson.

(2009 Mar 8 / OTIS R. TAYLOR JR.)
http://www.thestate.com/living/story/707516.html

+ wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Jamerson