Country Bassist Mike Chapman Dead at 63

The Nashville music community is mourning the loss of one of its own. Renowned bass player Mike Chapman passed away on Monday (June 13) at the age of 63.

Chapman was a very active member of the Nashville studio scene, All Access reports. He played on more than 30 No. 1 hits during his long career, recording with a Who's Who of country stars that included Garth Brooks, LeAnn Rimes, George Jones, Trisha Yearwood, Collin Raye, Joe Diffie and more. His recorded performances appeared on albums that have sold more than 170 million combined units.

According to his official biography, Chapman grew up in Athens, Ala., playing in local bands before moving to Hunstville, where he honed his chops playing in nightclubs six nights a week. He began his recording career playing sessions in the studio scene in Muscle Shoals, and when some of the songwriters he was working with headed to Nashville, he came with them, and soon launched an enormously successful career in Music City.

Over the course of his career he was awarded the Alabama Music Hall of Fame 2003 Musician's Award, won the 1993 Music Row magazine's Bass Player of the Year and played on Grammy-winning records. He performed on every one of Brooks' studio albums. Chapman's musicianship was so well-respected that he was inducted into the Nashville Musicians Hall of Fame on June 5 for his contributions to the genre as a part of Brooks' band, the G Men.

A celebration of life service is scheduled for Friday (June 17) at Church of the City Franklin in Franklin, Tenn., a suburb of Nashville. He will be laid to rest at a private burial on Monday (June 20) at Williamson Memorial Gardens.

The musician is survived by his wife, Connie; two sons, Lee and Clinton;  daughter, Allison;  a sister, Faye; and a grandson named Wyatt. Donations can be made in his name to the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum or to Meals for Health and Healing.

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