Anthony Jackson, six-string contrabass pioneer, dies at 73

Anthony Jackson, the American session bassist widely credited with expanding the role of the electric bass, has died at age 73, Fodera Guitars said in a statement. The high-end instrument maker, which worked closely with Jackson for decades, announced his passing over the weekend and described him as "one of the most visionary and influential bassists in the history of our instrument." Fodera did not give a cause of death; some reports said Jackson had been living with Parkinson's disease.

Jackson, born and raised in New York, built a career as a prolific session musician from the 1970s onward, appearing on recordings across jazz, R&B, pop, and fusion. His playing is heard on landmark tracks such as the O'Jays' For the Love of Money and on Madonna's self-titled 1983 album, and he performed with artists including Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, Roberta Flack, Paul Simon and Quincy Jones. He also played with Simon and Garfunkel during their free Central Park concert in 1981, which drew hundreds of thousands of listeners.

Beyond his extensive credits, Jackson is best known for pioneering the six-string contrabass guitar, an instrument tuned in fourths BEADGC that extended the bass's range...