Robert Lee "Pops" Popwell (December 29, 1950 – November 27, 2017) was an American jazz fusion, smooth jazz bass guitarist and percussionist.
Career Known as "Pops", he played with The Young Rascals , The Crusaders and the Macon Rhythm Section. The Young Rascals were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame May 6, 1997. They were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2005. He has played on albums by Aretha Franklin, George Benson, Ron Wood, Al Jarreau, Bobby Womack, Terry Bradds, Larry Carlton, Joe Sample, Smokey Robinson, Bette Midler, Gregg Allman, Bob Dylan, B. B. King, Les Dudek and Randy Crawford, among others. Most notably he played percussion on Aretha Franklin's Rock Steady.
He has also toured with Bette Midler and Olivia Newton-John. Popwell appeared in the movie Hard to Hold with Rick Springfield. Popwell wrote "Feelin Funky" on The Crusaders album Those Southern Knights.
Popwell died in Lebanon, Tennessee, at the age of 66. He was survived by his wife and three children.
Discography 1969: I'm a Loser - Doris Duke 1970: Johnny Jenkins - Johnny Jenkins 1970: Livingston Taylor - Livingston Taylor 1971: Liv - Livingston Taylor 1972: The Island Of Real − The Rascals 1972: Young, Gifted and Black - Aretha Franklin 1973: In Between Tears - Irma Thomas 1974: Southern Comfort - The Crusaders 1976: Those Southern Knights - The Crusaders 1976: Everything Must Change - Randy Crawford 1977: Eddie Money - Eddie Money 1977: Free As the Wind - The Crusaders 1977: Lisa Dal Bello - Lisa Dal Bello 1978: Love Island - Eumir Deodato 1978: Images - The Crusaders 1978: Midnight Believer - B.B. King 1978: Letta - Letta Mbulu 1979: Gimme Some Neck - Ron Wood 1979: Praying Spirit - Gloster Williams and Master Control 1979: Livin' Inside Your Love - George Benson 1980: Strikes Twice - Larry Carlton 1981: Love Life - Brenda Russell 1982: Baked potato Superlive! - The Greg Mathieson Project 1983: No Frills - Bette Midler 1990: Collection - Larry Carlton 2006: Sumner Sessions - Terry Bradds 2007: Master Hands - Terry Bradds 2009: Touch of Spice - Terry Bradds and Nioshi Jackson
References
External links
Robert Popwell at the Macon Rhythm Section