Jason Scheff
| Jason Scheff | |
|---|---|
Scheff in 2013
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jason Randolph Scheff |
| Born | April 16, 1962 San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1980–present |
| Associated acts | |
| Website | https://jasonscheff.com/ |
Jason Randolph Scheff (born April 16, 1962, in San Diego) is an American bassist, singer, and songwriter. From 1985 to 2016 he was the bassist and singer for the veteran pop-rock band Chicago.[1]
Early career[edit]
Scheff was a graduate of the Class of 1980 at San Diego's Point Loma High School. He started his professional musical career in 1982 as a member of the Los Angeles–based rock band named Keane (not to be confused with the English band of the same name). In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he played in a variety of bands with musicians who would go on to form Ratt.
Tenure with Chicago[edit]
In mid-1985, 23-year-old Scheff joined the multi-platinum band, Chicago, after Peter Cetera had departed the band to continue his solo career. Scheff was noted for his uncanny vocal resemblance to Cetera. His lead vocals were debuted on the 1986 single "25 or 6 to 4," a remake of their 1970 hit, then followed up with "Will You Still Love Me?"
In addition to performing the band's classic material, Scheff had composed several original songs for the band, including their 1989 Top 10 single "What Kind of Man Would I Be?" Scheff also co-wrote the song "Heart of Mine" with Bobby Caldwell and Dennis Matkosky. The song became a big hit for Boz Scaggs in 1988 and was included in the 1988 Boz Scaggs album "Other Roads" and the collection Hits!. Scheff would perform "Heart of Mine" several years later in 2007 for a theater in a round setting at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville. Scheff, along with co-writers Peter Wolf and Ina Wolf, wrote the song "Bigger Than Elvis" in 1993 for what was intended to be Chicago's 22nd album. This song is about his father, Jerry Scheff, describing Jason's childhood memories of watching his father play on television. The album however, was rejected by Warner Brothers in 1993, and remained unreleased until 2008 when Rhino released it as Chicago XXXII: Stone of Sisyphus. In 2005, Scheff and Chicago founding member Robert Lamm convinced the band to record Chicago XXX, their first collection of new material since 1991's Twenty 1.[citation needed] Scheff also enlisted Rascal Flatts vocalist and bassist Jay DeMarcus to serve as producer for the new album, which was released on March 21, 2006. Scheff co-wrote seven of the twelve songs on the CD.
Scheff has also recorded as a solo artist, releasing a CD entitled Chauncy in 1996, as well as several duets released only in Japan.
He would be part of 2 acapella releases by a band dubbed "West Coast All Stars". The first in 1997 called "California Dreamin'" included vocals by Joseph Williams, Bill Champlin, Bobby Kimball & Scheff; the second in 1998, "Naturally", again would feature Williams, Kimball and Scheff adding this time Tommy Funderburk as the fourth vocal[2]
In 2004-2005 he was part of Robert Lamm's Solo Band that did a promotional performance/CD/DVD in both New Zealand and Los Angeles for Lamm's Release "Leap of Faith"[3] He was also a featured artist on 2 of Lamm's other albums: in 2003, "Subtlety & Passion" and "Living Proof" in 2012[4]
In 2005, Scheff (credited as Jason Chefe)[5] appeared on the Pink Floyd tribute album Back Against the Wall, performing lead vocals and bass on the track "Run Like Hell", together with Dweezil Zappa (lead guitar), Tony Kaye (keyboard solo), Aynsley Dunbar (drums), Bob Kulick (electric guitar), and Billy Sherwood (keyboards).
Scheff and Lamm also collaborated as the executive producers of Zosia Karbowiak's first international solo release in 2009 S.I.N.G[6][7]
The 2013 Oscar Nominated Nebraska (film) featured the Chicago composition "We Can Last Forever" highlighting Scheff's lead vocals and penned by himself & John Dexter[8]
In 2014, Chicago released Chicago XXXVI: Now, a studio album of original songs, where Scheff co-wrote and performed the title track.
A few weeks after performing with Chicago for their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction in April 2016, Jason Scheff took a leave of absence from the band[9]. Singer/bassist Jeff Coffey filled in for him on the summer tour. In October of that year, Jason amicably left Chicago, with Coffey as his successor[10][11].
After Chicago[edit]
Following his years with Chicago, in the fall of 2016 Scheff participated as a judge for American Super Group[12] and has worked with new artists trying to break into the music business conducting songwriting workshops and music lessons[13]
He took part in charity golf outings for the Russell Wilson's annual event to help raise funds for cancer, [14] the Medlock-Krieger Invitational to support the Tllman Foundation,[15] and the Ken Singleton Celebrity Golf Classic in Baltimore that benefits children with cancer and their families[16]
Although Scheff had already departed Chicago, in January 2017, he appeared in the CNN feature film by Peter Pardini "Now More Than Ever: The History of Chicago"[17]. The movie had previously been viewed at the Sedona International Film Festival and Fort Myers Beach Film Festival in 2016.
Scheff was a featured player/singer in a Hall of Fame Rock Concert Event for St Jude's Charity with Danny Seraphine[18]
In 2017, he performed at Bogies with artists including Lilliana de los Reyes[19], daughter of former bandmate Walfredo Reyes, Jr., and David Garfield[20]
Continuing his work in studio he cut tracks with Gerry Beckley, Jeff Foskett; and played bass and performed vocals with Zosia Karbowiak[21] on her release "TEN" Peaking on the Charts in Poland at Number 7[22]
Scheff was also a featured as a vocalist and bassist on French Musician Singer/Songwriter Chardeau's latest releases Fauves & Pastels (Released Feb 2015) and Sanguines (Released Sept 2017)[23]
Scheff was the lead vocalist and bass player on the title track from Tomi Malm's "Walkin' On Air", penned by Malm & Jackie Kavan and featured Malm on keyboards. The song also included players Vinnie Colaiuta, Dan Warner, Eric Marienthal, Patrik Eriksson & Mattias Lejdal and background vocals with Langhoff, Malm and Zosia Karbowiak (Contante & Sonante 2017)[24]
References[edit]
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. "Biography: Chicago". AMG. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
- ^ "West Coast All Stars".
- ^ "Leap Of Faith".
- ^ "Robert Lamm Music".
- ^ "Jason Scheff Discography". Discogs. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
- ^ "ZoSia Karbowiak Website".
- ^ "ZoSia Karbowiak - All Music".
- ^ "Nebraska Soundtrack".
- ^ "Jason Scheff Leave of Absense".
- ^ "Ultimate Classic Rock-Jason Scheff Leaves Chicago".
- ^ "WAQY Rock 102-Press on Scheff's Departure".
- ^ "American Super Group".
- ^ "Rock Star Ready".
- ^ "Russell Wilson Charity Golf Tournament".
- ^ "Medlock Krieger Invitational".
- ^ "Ken Singleton Celebrity Golf Classic".
- ^ "The History of Chicago".
- ^ "St Jude Charity Event".
- ^ "Lilliana de los Reyes Official Website".
- ^ "Bogies @ Westlake Village".
- ^ "ZoSia Karbowiak Official Website".
- ^ "Radio Koszalin".
- ^ "Chardeau's Discography".
- ^ "Contante & Sonante".
External Links[edit]
- 1962 births
- Living people
- American bass guitarists
- American male singers
- American singers
- Songwriters from California
- Chicago (band) members
- Writers from San Diego
- Musicians from San Diego
- Point Loma High School alumni
- 20th-century composers
- 21st-century composers
- American male composers
- American composers
- 20th-century American guitarists
- 21st-century American guitarists
- Guitarists from California
- American male guitarists
