UHD’s Rhythm & Books Series

One of the All-Time Greatest Bassists, Victor Wooten, Comes to UHD

by Marie Jacinto

 

As the weather heats up, so does UHD’s Rhythm & Books series, as five-time Grammy Award-winning bass guitarist Victor Wooten comes to 40,000 Windows Café in W.I. Dykes Library on July 3. Rolling Stone Magazine called him “one of the top ten bassists of all time.”

Up until now, Rhythm & Books, a series of intimate, live tapings, has featured Texas-grown talent. For the next installment,  series producer Spencer Lightsy, UHD Associate Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations, steps beyond the boundaries of the Lone Star State to present Wooten.  

“Vic is on tour with the Wooten Brothers, and they are performing at The Heights Theater on the evening of July 3. We have the great fortune of presenting him here at UHD during the day,” said Lightsy. “Vic often shares a quote that his mom would say when people would be impressed with the musical proficiency of the brothers at such a young age, which is, ‘What does the world need with another good musician? We have plenty. What the world needs are good people!’ The fact that Vic is making time to share with our students, while in the midst of a world tour, is a testament to the fact that he has fulfilled his mom’s wishes to see her sons become not just good musicians, but good people.”

Wooten began performing as a child with his older brothers, and more than 50 years later, the Wooten Brothers are still touring. The young brothers were often sought after to share the stage with the likes of Curtis Mayfield, WAR, The Temptations, Ramsey Lewis, Stephanie Mills, Franky Beverly and Maze, Mongo Santamaria, and others. In 1972, the Wooten Brothers were hired as the opening band for Curtis Mayfield‘s hugely successful Superfly Tour. The eldest Wooten Brother, Regi, was fourteen years old. Victor was only five.

Victor Wooten has graced the cover of Bass Player Magazine five times. He is a founding member of the eclectic group Bela Fleck and the Flecktones and is recognized as one of the greatest living bassists today, often drawing comparisons to Jaco Pastorius. He is also an award-nominated author, naturalist, and music educator, and has been running his unique music/nature camps since 2000. In 2010, he started his own record label, Vix Records, which has released a series of acclaimed recordings in the last few years.

Lightsy met Wooten at a bass workshop seven years ago, and the veteran bassist was soon giving beginner bassist Lightsy advice, helping him grow as a musician. In 2022, Lightsy asked the Wooten family if members of Gator Groove, UHD’s student band, could attend the Jam Camp volunteer week at the Victor Wooten Center for Music and Nature outside of Nashville. Two years later, Lightsy has already taken the band twice!

On July 3, the entire UHD campus community has the opportunity to participate in what members of Gator Groove have experienced—what it is like to be in the room with one the greatest living bassists. And for those who miss it, the taping will be available on UHD’s YouTube channel.