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{{Infobox musical artist
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Foley
| name = Foley
| image =
| image = Foley Live at La Villette 2017.jpg
| alt = Foley performing at Jazz à la Villette, France 2017
| caption =
| caption = Foley performing at Jazz à la Villette, France 2017
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
| birth_name = Joseph Lee McCreary, Jr.
| birth_name = Joseph Lee McCreary, Jr.
| alias = Foley
| alias = Foley
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1962|11|26}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1962|11|6}}
| birth_place = [[Columbus, Ohio]], U.S.
| birth_place = [[Columbus, Ohio]], U.S.
| origin = [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]], OH
| origin = [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]], OH
| genre = [[Jazz]], [[jazz fusion]], [[post-bop]], [[Funk]], [[Funk Rock]]
| genre = [[Jazz]], [[jazz fusion]], [[post-bop]], [[Funk]], [[Funk Rock]]
| occupation = Musician, photographer
| occupation = Musician, photographer
| instrument = bass, drums, guitar, singing
| instrument = leadBASS, bass, drums, guitar, singing
| years_active = 1980s–present
| years_active = 1980s–present
| label = [[Motown]], SmartAlecRECORDS
| label = [[Motown]], SmartAlecRECORDS
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| website = {{URL|smartalecmusic.com}}
| website = {{URL|smartalecmusic.com}}
}}
}}
'''Foley''' (born '''Joseph Lee McCreary, Jr.''' 6th November 1962) is an American [[bassist]], [[drummer]] and [[singer]] who is best known as the "lead bassist" with [[Miles Davis]] from 1987 until 1991.<ref>Franck Bergerot: ''Miles Davis de A à Z.'' Castor Music 2012, p. 140f.</ref>
'''Foley''' (born '''Joseph Lee McCreary, Jr.''' 6 November 1962) is an American [[bassist]], [[drummer]] and [[singer]] who is best known as the "lead bassist" with [[Miles Davis]] from 1987 until 1991.<ref>Franck Bergerot: ''Miles Davis de A à Z.'' Castor Music 2012, p. 140f.</ref>


==Music career==
==Music career==
Foley was born in [[Columbus, Ohio]]. Growing up he listened to [[Sly and the Family Stone]], and after his mother bought him a bass (at age 12) he started playing with local bands. In 1987, he had a phone conversation with [[Marcus Miller]], then Miles Davis's bass player, and afterward sent him a tape of his music. Weeks later he got a call from Davis, who'd heard the tape and asked Foley to send him a copy: Miles Davis was looking for a guitarist, but at that time Foley had been working on getting his bass to sound like a guitar. By May 1987 Foley was touring with Davis, and played with him until the fall of 1991.<ref name=hallock>{{cite news |url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/dallas-foley-is-a-motown-vet-whos-played-with-miles-davis-and-george-clinton-7075228 |newspaper=[[Dallas Observer]] |accessdate=April 22, 2021 |title=Dallas' Foley is a Motown Vet Who's Played with Miles Davis and George Clinton |first=Jeremy |last=Hallock |date= January 21, 2015}}</ref>
Foley was born in [[Columbus, Ohio]]. Growing up he listened to [[Sly and the Family Stone]], and after his mother bought him a bass (at age 12) he started playing with local bands. In 1987, he had a phone conversation with [[Marcus Miller]], then Miles Davis's bass player, and afterward sent him a tape of his music. Weeks later he got a call from Davis, who'd heard the tape and asked Foley to send him a copy: Miles Davis was looking for a guitarist, but at that time Foley had been working on getting his bass to sound like a guitar. By May 1987 Foley was touring with Davis, and played with him until the fall of 1991.<ref name=hallock>{{cite news |url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/dallas-foley-is-a-motown-vet-whos-played-with-miles-davis-and-george-clinton-7075228 |newspaper=[[Dallas Observer]] |accessdate=April 22, 2021 |title=Dallas' Foley is a Motown Vet Who's Played with Miles Davis and George Clinton |first=Jeremy |last=Hallock |date= January 21, 2015}}</ref>


According to author George Cole, Davis gave Foley advice late in Foley's tenure with his band that changed the bassist's musical approach:{{quotation | Ironically Miles died at the time when Foley was beginning to feel happy about his playing in Miles's band. "I didn't enjoy any performance with Miles for the most part until the last seven gigs before it was over – I started playing that gig," he says, "we were at Venice airport one night and he told me to play half of what I normally played. It really fucked me up the whole day and then I went on-stage and tried it and I began to realize that's what would make me phrase. That was the night I started to learn how to play."<ref>[https://books.google.de/books?id=H5r-mzXMJfEC&pg=PA408&dq=Ironically+Miles+died&hl=de&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjxnamVgqPcAhWFDOwKHc07AQwQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q=Ironically%20Miles%20died&f=false books.google.de: The Last Miles: The Music of Miles Davis, 1980-1991]</ref> }}
According to author George Cole, Davis gave Foley advice late in Foley's tenure with his band that changed the bassist's musical approach:{{quotation | Ironically Miles died at the time when Foley was beginning to feel happy about his playing in Miles's band. "I didn't enjoy any performance with Miles for the most part until the last seven gigs before it was over – I started playing that gig," he says, "we were at Venice airport one night and he told me to play half of what I normally played. It really fucked me up the whole day and then I went on-stage and tried it and I began to realize that's what would make me phrase. That was the night I started to learn how to play."<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=H5r-mzXMJfEC&dq=Ironically+Miles+died&pg=PA408 books.google.de: The Last Miles: The Music of Miles Davis, 1980-1991]</ref> }}


In 1993 he played a lead bass solo on [[Mint Condition]]'s R&B Top 40 hit "So Fine" and the interlude track "Gumbo" from their album ''[[Mint Condition#1993-1994: From the Mint Factory|From the Mint Factory]]''.
In 1993 he played a lead bass solo on [[Mint Condition]]'s R&B Top 40 hit "So Fine" and the interlude track "Gumbo" from their album ''[[Mint Condition#1993-1994: From the Mint Factory|From the Mint Factory]]''.
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===As leader===
===As leader===
*''7 Years Ago ... Directions In Smart-Alec Music'' ([[Workshop Jazz Records|MoJazz]], 1993)
*''7 Years Ago ... Directions In Smart-Alec Music'' ([[Workshop Jazz Records|MoJazz]], 1993)
*''Smart Alec Music?'' (SmartAlecRECORDS 1997)<ref>https://www.discogs.com/release/14396008-Foley-Smart-Alec-Music-</ref>
*''Smart Alec Music?'' (SmartAlecRECORDS 1997)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/release/14396008-Foley-Smart-Alec-Music- | title=Foley - Smart Alec Music ? | website=[[Discogs]] }}</ref>
*''Life without Dat Vol.1'' (SmartAlecRECORDS, 2001)<ref name=":0">https://groups.google.com/g/alt.music.prince/c/ubiWgJ_01qY/m/u174zXEIdb8J?hl=en</ref>
*''Life without Dat Vol.1'' (SmartAlecRECORDS, 2001)<ref name=":0">{{cite web | url=https://groups.google.com/g/alt.music.prince/c/ubiWgJ_01qY/m/u174zXEIdb8J?hl=en | title=Otp:FOLEY Live CDR Tree setup Attention Foley fans..or newcomers }}</ref>
*''IN My Life'' (SmartAlecRECORDS, 2002)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://groups.google.com/g/alt.music.mike-keneally/c/-p6lGcFAijI/m/dZv4CSyaS5wJ?hl=en | title=Otp:Foley Mystery Disc review }}</ref>
*''TIME:Clock of Da Universe'' (SmartAlecRECORDS, 2002)<ref name=":0" />
*''Tryin Mai Nerves'' (Single) (SmartAlecRECORDS, 2004)<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2004/05/18/310642/2709/en/Legendary-Musician-Foley-Records-New-Music-On-Netburn-TM.html | title=Legendary Musician 'Foley' Records New Music on Netburn(TM) | date=May 18, 2004 }}</ref>

*''The Lost Sessions: LA'' (SmartAlecRECORDS, 2017)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://69musicology.wordpress.com/2017/11/06/foley-cum-round-2017/ | title=Foley – Cum Round (2017) | date=November 6, 2017 }}</ref>
===As sideman===
'''With [[Keith Staten]]'''

* Take Me Now (Self-Released, 1984)
* ''Don't Tell Me That'' (Self-Released, 1985)
* Break Your Body (Self-Released, 1985)


=== As sideman ===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
'''With [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]]'''
'''With [[George Clinton (funk musician)|George Clinton]]'''
* ''[[Hey, Man, Smell My Finger]]'' ([[Paisley Park Records|Paisley Park]], 1993) – rec. 1992-93

* ''[[Hey, Man, Smell My Finger]]'' ([[Paisley Park Records|Paisley Park]], 1993) – recorded in 1992-93
* ''[[George Clinton and His Gangsters of Love]]'' ([[Shanachie Records|Shanachie]], 2008)
* ''[[George Clinton and His Gangsters of Love]]'' ([[Shanachie Records|Shanachie]], 2008)


'''With [[Miles Davis]]'''
'''With [[Miles Davis]]'''
* ''[[Amandla (album)|Amandla]]'' ([[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]], 1989) – recorded in 1988-89
* ''[[Amandla (album)|Amandla]]'' ([[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]], 1989) – rec. 1988-89
* ''[[Miles in Paris|Miles In Paris]]'' ([[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]], 1990)
* ''[[Miles in Paris|Miles In Paris]]'' ([[Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros.]], 1990)
* ''[[Dingo (soundtrack)|Dingo]]'' ([[Warner Records|Warner Bros.]], 1991) – recorded in 1990
* ''[[Dingo (soundtrack)|Dingo]]'' ([[Warner Records|Warner Bros.]], 1991) – rec. 1990
* ''Black Devil'' (Beech Marten, 1992)
* ''Black Devil'' (Beech Marten, 1992)
* ''Live - From His Last Concert in Avignon'' ([[LaserLight Digital]], 1992)
* ''Live - From His Last Concert in Avignon'' ([[LaserLight Digital]], 1992)
* ''Miles in Montreux'' ([[Jazz Door]], 1993)
* ''Miles in Montreux'' ([[Jazz Door]], 1993)
* ''[[Live Around the World (Miles Davis album)|Live Around the World]]'' ([[Warner Records|Warner Bros.]], 1996) – recorded in 1988-91
* ''[[Live Around the World (Miles Davis album)|Live Around the World]]'' ([[Warner Records|Warner Bros.]], 1996) – rec. 1988-91
* ''Miles And His Group'' ([[EMI Music Japan|Toshiba EMI]], 1997)
* ''Miles And His Group'' ([[EMI Music Japan|Toshiba EMI]], 1997)
* At La Villette ([[JVC Records|JVC]], 2001)
* ''At La Villette'' ([[JVC Records|JVC]], 2001)
* ''[[Live in Munich (Miles Davis video)|Live In Munich]]'' (Pioneer, 2002)
* ''[[Live in Munich (Miles Davis video)|Live In Munich]]'' (Pioneer, 2002)
* ''[[The Complete Miles Davis at Montreux|The Complete Miles Davis At Montreux]]'' ([[Warner Music Switzerland|Warner Music]], 2002)
* ''[[The Complete Miles Davis at Montreux|The Complete Miles Davis At Montreux]]'' ([[Warner Music Switzerland|Warner Music]], 2002)
* ''Munich Concert'' ([[Deluxe Records|Deluxe]], 2005)
* ''Munich Concert'' ([[Deluxe Records|Deluxe]], 2005)
* ''Time After Time. Live At The Philarmonic Concert Hall'' (Standing Oh!vation, 2005)
* ''Time After Time. Live At The Philharmonic Concert Hall'' (Standing Oh!vation, 2005)[DVD-Video]
* ''The Very Best Of Miles Davis'' ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhino Records]], 2007)
* ''The Very Best Of Miles Davis'' ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhino Records]], 2007)
* ''[[That's What Happened: Live in Germany 1987|That's What Happened Live in Germany]]'' (Eagle Vision, 2009) – recorded in 1987
* ''[[That's What Happened: Live in Germany 1987|That's What Happened Live in Germany]]'' (Eagle Vision, 2009) – rec. 1987
* On The Crest Of The Airways (Rock Melon Music, 2011)
<!--* On The Crest Of The Airways (Rock Melon Music, 2011) unofficial -->
* ''[[Miles! The Definitive Miles Davis at Montreux DVD Collection|Miles! The Definitive Miles Davis At Montreux DVD Collection]]'' (Eagle Vision, 2011)
* ''[[Miles! The Definitive Miles Davis at Montreux DVD Collection|Miles! The Definitive Miles Davis At Montreux DVD Collection]]'' (Eagle Vision, 2011)
* ''1986-1991 The Warner Years'' ([[Warner Music France]], 2011)
* ''1986-1991 The Warner Years'' ([[Warner Music France]], 2011)
* ''[[Merci Miles! Live at Vienne]]'' ([[Warner Records|Warner Bros.]], 2021) – recorded in 1991
* ''[[Merci Miles! Live at Vienne]]'' ([[Warner Records|Warner Bros.]], 2021) – rec. 1991

'''With [[Kenny Garrett]]'''
* ''Prisoner of Love'' ([[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]], 1989)

'''With [[Mint Condition]]'''
* ''[[From the Mint Factory]]'' ([[Perspective Records|Perspective]], 1993)


'''With [[Paolo Rustichelli]]'''
'''With [[Paolo Rustichelli]]'''
* ''Capri'' ([[Verve Records|Verve]], 1991)
* ''Capri'' ([[Verve Records|Verve]], 1991)
* ''Mystic Jazz'' ([[Polydor Records|Polydor]], 1992)
* ''Mystic Jazz'' ([[Polydor Records|Polydor]], 1992)

'''With [[Keith Staten]]'''
* ''Take Me Now'' (Self-Released, 1984)
* ''Don't Tell Me That'' (Self-Released, 1985)
* ''Break Your Body'' (Self-Released, 1985)


'''With [[Lenny White]]'''
'''With [[Lenny White]]'''
* ''Renderors Of Spirit'' (Hip Bop, 1996)
* ''Renderors Of Spirit'' (Hip Bop, 1996)
* ''Edge'' (Hip Bop, 1998)
* ''Edge'' (Hip Bop, 1998)
* ''Lenny White Live'' (BFM Jazz, 2013) – live recorded in 1997
* ''Lenny White Live'' (BFM Jazz, 2013) – live rec. 1997
{{col-2}}
'''With [[Speech (rapper)|Speech]]'''
'''With others'''

* ''Speech'' ([[Chrysalis Records|Chrysalis]], 1995)
* [[Arrested Development (group)|Arrested Development]], ''[[Zingalamaduni]]'' ([[Chrysalis Records|Chrysalis]], 1994)
'''With Paul Brown's Science Gravy Orchestra'''
* Paul Brown's Science Gravy Orchestra, ''Science Gravy Classics'' (Self-Released, 2001)
* Dean Francis, ''Black As All That'' (Soulciety, 1998)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.smartalecmusic.com:80/Mo...BIO.htm |title=Smartalecmusic ( Mo' Info .....) |website=www.smartalecmusic.com:80 |access-date=26 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040917165747/http://www.smartalecmusic.com:80/Mo...BIO.htm |archive-date=17 September 2004 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* ''Science Gravy Classics'' (Self-Released, 2001)
* [[Kenny Garrett]], ''Prisoner of Love'' ([[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]], 1989)

* [[Happy Chichester]], ''Lovers Come Back'' (PopFly, 2007)
'''With [[Mavis Staples]]'''
* [[Talib Kweli]], ''[[Quality (Talib Kweli album)|Quality]]'' ([[Rawkus Records|Rawkus]], 2002)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.smartalecmusic.com/bioII.htm | title=Smartalecmusic ( Mo' Info .....) }}</ref>

* ''[[Have a Little Faith (Mavis Staples album)|Have A Little Faith]]'' ([[Alligator Records|Alligator]], 2004)
* [[Mint Condition]], ''[[From the Mint Factory]]'' ([[Perspective Records|Perspective]], 1993)
* [[Parliament-Funkadelic]], ''Chocolate City: London | P-Funk Live At Metropolis'' (Metropolis Recordings, 2015)

* [[Mavis Staples]], ''[[Have a Little Faith (Mavis Staples album)|Have A Little Faith]]'' ([[Alligator Records|Alligator]], 2004)
'''With [[Happy Chichester]]'''
* Bobby Sparks II, ''Schizophrenia: The Yang Project'' (Leopard, 2019)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/schizophrenia-the-yang-project-bobby-sparks-ii-delta-review-by-roger-farbey | title=Bobby Sparks II: Schizophrenia: The Yang Project album review @ All About Jazz | date=March 19, 2019 }}</ref>
* [[Speech (rapper)|Speech]], ''[[Speech (Speech album)|Speech]]'' ([[Chrysalis Records|Chrysalis]], 1995)
* Tree Thirteen, ''Rough Grooves Surface'' (Out The Box, 2004)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/rough-grooves-surface-mw0000207433/credits | title=Rough Grooves Surface - Tree Thirteen &#124; Credits &#124; AllMusic | website=[[AllMusic]] }}</ref>
{{col-end}}


=== As an engineer ===
* ''Lovers Come Back'' (PopFly, 2007)
'''With [[Parliament-Funkadelic]]'''
'''With [[Vanessa Williams]]'''


* ''[[The Comfort Zone (album)|The Comfort Zone]]'' ([[Mercury Records|Wing]], 1991)<ref>[[The Comfort Zone (album)]]</ref>
* Chocolate City: London | P-Funk Live At Metropolis (Metropolis Recordings, 2015)


==References==
==References==
Line 111: Line 112:
==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.smartalecmusic.com Official website]
* [http://www.smartalecmusic.com Official website]
* [https://www.facebook.com/FOLEYLEADBASS/ Official Facebook page]
* [https://www.instagram.com/smartalecmusic/ Official Instagram page]
* [https://www.youtube.com/smartalecFILMS YouTube Channel]
* [https://vimeo.com/smartalecfilms Vimeo page]
* [https://www.discogs.com/artist/5375743-Joe-Foley-McCreary Discogs entry no.1]
* [https://www.discogs.com/artist/5375743-Joe-Foley-McCreary Discogs entry no.1]
* [https://www.discogs.com/artist/157865-Foley Discogs entry no.2]
* [https://www.discogs.com/artist/157865-Foley Discogs entry no.2]

Latest revision as of 02:47, 19 December 2023

Foley
Foley performing at Jazz à la Villette, France 2017
Foley performing at Jazz à la Villette, France 2017
Background information
Birth nameJoseph Lee McCreary, Jr.
Also known asFoley
Born (1962-11-06) November 6, 1962 (age 62)
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
OriginColumbus, OH
GenresJazz, jazz fusion, post-bop, Funk, Funk Rock
Occupation(s)Musician, photographer
Instrument(s)leadBASS, bass, drums, guitar, singing
Years active1980s–present
LabelsMotown, SmartAlecRECORDS
Websitesmartalecmusic.com

Foley (born Joseph Lee McCreary, Jr. 6 November 1962) is an American bassist, drummer and singer who is best known as the "lead bassist" with Miles Davis from 1987 until 1991.[1]

Music career

[edit]

Foley was born in Columbus, Ohio. Growing up he listened to Sly and the Family Stone, and after his mother bought him a bass (at age 12) he started playing with local bands. In 1987, he had a phone conversation with Marcus Miller, then Miles Davis's bass player, and afterward sent him a tape of his music. Weeks later he got a call from Davis, who'd heard the tape and asked Foley to send him a copy: Miles Davis was looking for a guitarist, but at that time Foley had been working on getting his bass to sound like a guitar. By May 1987 Foley was touring with Davis, and played with him until the fall of 1991.[2]

According to author George Cole, Davis gave Foley advice late in Foley's tenure with his band that changed the bassist's musical approach:

Ironically Miles died at the time when Foley was beginning to feel happy about his playing in Miles's band. "I didn't enjoy any performance with Miles for the most part until the last seven gigs before it was over – I started playing that gig," he says, "we were at Venice airport one night and he told me to play half of what I normally played. It really fucked me up the whole day and then I went on-stage and tried it and I began to realize that's what would make me phrase. That was the night I started to learn how to play."[3]

In 1993 he played a lead bass solo on Mint Condition's R&B Top 40 hit "So Fine" and the interlude track "Gumbo" from their album From the Mint Factory.

In 1993, during his time at Motown, Foley released 7 Years Ago...Directions in Smart-Alec Music. The album included "If It's Positive".[4]

The Cité de la Musique showed a Miles Davis exhibition from October 16, 2009, to January 17, 2010, that included Foley's "lead bass".

Technique

[edit]

Foley tuned his bass nearly an octave higher than a standard bass guitar using piccolo bass strings and processed it through various effects, allowing him to sound like a lead guitarist.[5]

Discography

[edit]

As leader

[edit]
  • 7 Years Ago ... Directions In Smart-Alec Music (MoJazz, 1993)
  • Smart Alec Music? (SmartAlecRECORDS 1997)[6]
  • Life without Dat Vol.1 (SmartAlecRECORDS, 2001)[7]
  • IN My Life (SmartAlecRECORDS, 2002)[8]
  • Tryin Mai Nerves (Single) (SmartAlecRECORDS, 2004)[9]
  • The Lost Sessions: LA (SmartAlecRECORDS, 2017)[10]

As sideman

[edit]

As an engineer

[edit]

With Vanessa Williams

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Franck Bergerot: Miles Davis de A à Z. Castor Music 2012, p. 140f.
  2. ^ Hallock, Jeremy (January 21, 2015). "Dallas' Foley is a Motown Vet Who's Played with Miles Davis and George Clinton". Dallas Observer. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  3. ^ books.google.de: The Last Miles: The Music of Miles Davis, 1980-1991
  4. ^ "If It's Positive" music video on YouTube
  5. ^ Cole, George. "Miles's Musician Profiles: Foley," The Last Miles, 2005. Last accessed March 6, 2006.
  6. ^ "Foley - Smart Alec Music ?". Discogs.
  7. ^ "Otp:FOLEY Live CDR Tree setup Attention Foley fans..or newcomers".
  8. ^ "Otp:Foley Mystery Disc review".
  9. ^ "Legendary Musician 'Foley' Records New Music on Netburn(TM)" (Press release). May 18, 2004.
  10. ^ "Foley – Cum Round (2017)". November 6, 2017.
  11. ^ "Smartalecmusic ( Mo' Info .....)". www.smartalecmusic.com:80. Archived from the original on September 17, 2004. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  12. ^ "Smartalecmusic ( Mo' Info .....)".
  13. ^ "Bobby Sparks II: Schizophrenia: The Yang Project album review @ All About Jazz". March 19, 2019.
  14. ^ "Rough Grooves Surface - Tree Thirteen | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  15. ^ The Comfort Zone (album)
[edit]