Jason Scheff
Encyclopedia
Jason Randolph Scheff is an American bassist
, singer and songwriter. Since 1985 he has been the bassist and singer for the veteran pop
-rock
band Chicago
. He is the oldest son of well-known session bassist Jerry Scheff
, who toured for several years with Elvis Presley
. His brothers Darin and Lauren Scheff are also professional songwriters.
Scheff was a member of the Class of 1980 at San Diego's Point Loma High School
and started his professional musical career in 1982 as a member of a Los Angeles based rock band named Keane (not to be confused with the British band of the same name).
At age 23, Jason joined Chicago in mid-1985 when Peter Cetera
left to pursue a solo career. His ability to closely duplicate Cetera's vocal parts on Chicago hits allowed the band to continue its touring/recording efforts without a hitch; he debuted on lead vocals on their 1986 hit single "Will You Still Love Me?
" Besides performing the band's classic material, Scheff has composed several original songs for the band, including their 1989 Top 10 single "What Kind Of Man Would I Be?
." Scheff also cowrote the song "Heart Of Mine" with Bobby Caldwell
and Dennis Matkosky. The song became a big hit for Boz Scaggs
in 1988. It was included in the 1988 Boz Scaggs album "Other Roads
" and the collection Hits!
. 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
. Scheff also enlisted Rascal Flatts
vocalist/bassist Jay DeMarcus
to serve as producer for the new album, which was released on March 21, 2006. Scheff co-wrote seven of the 12 songs on the CD.
Scheff, along with co-writers Peter Wolf
and Ina Wolf, wrote a song in the early 1990s called "Bigger Than Elvis," for what was intended to be Chicago's 22nd album. This song is about Jason Scheff's father, Jerry Scheff
, and describes Jason's memories growing up watching his father play for Elvis Presley
on TV (although he also played with Elvis Costello
), and thinking that his father was the big star. "Elvis was just a guy in a suit," Jason said during the 2003 concert on A&E
's Live by Request. The album however, was rejected by Warner Brothers in 1993, and sat unreleased until 2008 when Rhino released it as Chicago XXXII: Stone of Sisyphus
.
Scheff has also enjoyed some limited success as a solo artist, releasing a CD entitled Chauncy
in 1996, as well as several duets released only in Japan
.
In late 2006, Scheff joined indie supergroup L.E.O.
to create the album Alpacas Orgling
, a tribute to Jeff Lynne
and the Electric Light Orchestra
. Alpacas Orgling was released in October 2006, to generally positive reviews.
As of November 2007, Scheff began broadcasting his vocals and music work over the internet via Ustream.tv.
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
, singer and songwriter. Since 1985 he has been the bassist and singer for the veteran pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
-rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Chicago
Chicago (band)
Chicago is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois. The self-described "rock and roll band with horns" began as a politically charged, sometimes experimental, rock band and later moved to a predominantly softer sound, becoming famous for producing a number of hit ballads. They had...
. He is the oldest son of well-known session bassist Jerry Scheff
Jerry Scheff
Jerry Obern Scheff is an American bassist, perhaps best known for his work with Elvis Presley in the early 1970s as a member of his TCB Band and his work on The Doors' final recordings....
, who toured for several years with Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
. His brothers Darin and Lauren Scheff are also professional songwriters.
Scheff was a member of the Class of 1980 at San Diego's Point Loma High School
Point Loma High School
Point Loma High School is a public high school in the San Diego Unified School District in San Diego, California. It is located in the Loma Portal neighborhood of Point Loma. The school serves the neighborhoods of Point Loma and Ocean Beach. In addition, students who live in Mission Hills may...
and started his professional musical career in 1982 as a member of a Los Angeles based rock band named Keane (not to be confused with the British band of the same name).
At age 23, Jason joined Chicago in mid-1985 when Peter Cetera
Peter Cetera
Peter Paul Cetera is an American singer, songwriter, bassist and producer best known for being an original member of the rock band Chicago, before launching a successful solo career...
left to pursue a solo career. His ability to closely duplicate Cetera's vocal parts on Chicago hits allowed the band to continue its touring/recording efforts without a hitch; he debuted on lead vocals on their 1986 hit single "Will You Still Love Me?
Will You Still Love Me? (Chicago song)
"Will You Still Love Me?" is a song written by David Foster, Tom Keane and Richard Baskin for the group Chicago and recorded for their album Chicago 18 . The second single released from that album, it reached number three on the U.S...
" Besides performing the band's classic material, Scheff has composed several original songs for the band, including their 1989 Top 10 single "What Kind Of Man Would I Be?
What Kind Of Man Would I Be?
"What Kind Of Man Would I Be?" is the name of a song written by Jason Scheff, Chas Sandford and Bobby Caldwell and recorded by the band Chicago for their 1988 album Chicago 19. and 1989 album Greatest Hits 1982-1989...
." Scheff also cowrote the song "Heart Of Mine" with Bobby Caldwell
Bobby Caldwell
Bobby Caldwell is an American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who, despite a prolific musical output over his 30-year career, is still best known for his 1978 hit single "What You Won't Do for Love". While he has always maintained a devoted fan base in the United States, a legendary...
and Dennis Matkosky. The song became a big hit for Boz Scaggs
Boz Scaggs
William Royce "Boz" Scaggs is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. He gained fame in the 1970s with several Top 20 hit singles in the United States, along with the #2 album, Silk Degrees. Scaggs continues to write, record music and tour.-Early life and career:Scaggs was born in Canton,...
in 1988. It was included in the 1988 Boz Scaggs album "Other Roads
Other Roads
Other Roads is an album by Boz Scaggs, released in 1988. After an eight-year hiatus from recording, Boz Scaggs returned in 1988 with the album Other Roads, a record aimed primarily at the adult contemporary market. The album reached #47 on the Billboard pop album chart, while the lead single “Heart...
" and the collection Hits!
Hits!
-10 Great Songs:Erasure - 10 Great Songs was a budget compilation released on 2 November 2009, shortly after the Total Pop! The First 40 Hits range of releases. According to the official Erasure website, the album was "part of a series of budget titles put together by EMI specifically for sale...
. In 2005, Scheff and Chicago founding member Robert Lamm
Robert Lamm
Robert William Lamm is an American keyboardist, singer and songwriter who came to fame as a founding member of the pop rock band Chicago...
convinced the band to record Chicago XXX
Chicago XXX
Chicago XXX is an album by the American band Chicago, released on March 21, 2006. Their 30th official album, it is Chicago's first studio release of new and original material since 1991's Twenty 1....
, their first collection of new material since 1991's Twenty 1
Twenty 1
Twenty 1 is the 21st album by American rock band Chicago and was released in 1991. As their first album of the 1990s, Twenty 1 was intended to extend Chicago's continuing success into another decade....
. Scheff also enlisted Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts
Rascal Flatts is an American country music band that originated in Columbus, Ohio, United States of America. Since its inception, Rascal Flatts has been composed of three members: Gary LeVox , Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney...
vocalist/bassist Jay DeMarcus
Jay DeMarcus
Jay DeMarcus is the bass guitarist, harmony vocalist, pianist and songwriter in the American country trio Rascal Flatts.DeMarcus was born in Columbus, Ohio...
to serve as producer for the new album, which was released on March 21, 2006. Scheff co-wrote seven of the 12 songs on the CD.
Scheff, along with co-writers Peter Wolf
Peter Wolf
Peter Wolf is an American Rhythm and Blues, Soul and Rock and Roll musician, best known as the lead vocalist for the J. Geils Band from 1967 to 1983; and for a successful musical solo career to date with writing partner Will Jennings.- Life and career :Wolf was born in the Bronx, New York...
and Ina Wolf, wrote a song in the early 1990s called "Bigger Than Elvis," for what was intended to be Chicago's 22nd album. This song is about Jason Scheff's father, Jerry Scheff
Jerry Scheff
Jerry Obern Scheff is an American bassist, perhaps best known for his work with Elvis Presley in the early 1970s as a member of his TCB Band and his work on The Doors' final recordings....
, and describes Jason's memories growing up watching his father play for Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
on TV (although he also played with Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
), and thinking that his father was the big star. "Elvis was just a guy in a suit," Jason said during the 2003 concert on A&E
A&E Network
The A&E Network is a United States-based cable and satellite television network with headquarters in New York City and offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, London, Los Angeles and Stamford. A&E also airs in Canada and Latin America. Initially named the Arts & Entertainment Network, A&E launched...
's Live by Request. The album however, was rejected by Warner Brothers in 1993, and sat unreleased until 2008 when Rhino released it as Chicago XXXII: Stone of Sisyphus
Chicago XXXII: Stone of Sisyphus
Stone of Sisyphus is a studio album by American rock band Chicago, released on June 17, 2008, after a nearly 15-year delay.-History:The album was set to be released as Chicago XXII in the United States on March 22, 1994. However, Warner Bros...
.
Scheff has also enjoyed some limited success as a solo artist, releasing a CD entitled Chauncy
Chauncy (album)
Chauncy is the 1996 debut solo album by singer/songwriter/bassist Jason Scheff. Scheff is probably best known as a member of the band Chicago, where he has been the bassist and a lead singer since 1985.-Track listing:# "Standing Here Beside Me"...
in 1996, as well as several duets released only in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
In late 2006, Scheff joined indie supergroup L.E.O.
L.E.O.
L.E.O. is an Electric Light Orchestra-style music project of a number of musicians. Spawned by an on-stage cover of ELO's "Telephone Line" by lead singer-songwriter Bleu and Mike Viola, it quickly produced an entire album of original songs similar in style to 1970s AM radio pop music.The project...
to create the album Alpacas Orgling
Alpacas Orgling
Alpacas Orgling is an album by pop band L.E.O.. Released in October 2006 on Cheap Lullaby Records, it was mostly written and performed by Bleu, but also features performances by Hanson, Mike Viola, Jason Scheff of Chicago, Andy Sturmer of Jellyfish, Paula Kelley, and Matt Mahaffey of Self.A hidden...
, a tribute to Jeff Lynne
Jeff Lynne
Jeffrey "Jeff" Lynne is an English songwriter, composer, arranger, singer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer who gained fame as the leader and sole constant member of Electric Light Orchestra and was a co-founder and member of The Traveling Wilburys together with George Harrison, Bob...
and the Electric Light Orchestra
Electric Light Orchestra
Electric Light Orchestra were a British rock group from Birmingham who released eleven studio albums between 1971 and 1986 and another album in 2001. ELO were formed to accommodate Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne's desire to create modern rock and pop songs with classical overtones...
. Alpacas Orgling was released in October 2006, to generally positive reviews.
As of November 2007, Scheff began broadcasting his vocals and music work over the internet via Ustream.tv.